Data storage library with media acclimation device and methods of acclimating data storage media

ABSTRACT

A system, method and apparatus to acclimate a data storage component from a first environmental setting to a second environmental setting is disclosed. In one embodiment a system having a data storage library with a plurality of data storage cartridges and at least one media acclimation device having one or more storage locations which are sized to accept one or more data storage cartridges therein is disclosed. The at least one media acclimation device is configured to gradually acclimate the one or more storage locations from an external environmental condition to an internal environmental condition. In another embodiment, a method of acclimating a data storage library component is disclosed. The system, method and apparatus may optionally further include at least one environmental conditioning unit for conditioning the internal environment within the library.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a library for the storage and transferof data, and more specifically, to a self-cooled data storage libraryhaving a media acclimation device for gradually acclimating data storagecartridges and/or media.

Automated data storage libraries are known for providing cost effectivestorage and retrieval of large quantities of data. The data in automateddata storage libraries is typically stored on the media contained indata storage cartridges that are, in turn, stored at storage slots orlocations and the like inside the library in a fashion that renders themedia, and its resident data, accessible for physical retrieval. Suchdata storage cartridges, are also commonly referred to as “removablemedia.” The media in data storage cartridges also referred to as datastorage cartridge media or data storage media may comprise any type ofmedia on which data may be stored, and which optionally may serve asremovable media, including but not limited to magnetic media (such asmagnetic tape or disks), optical media (such as optical tape or disks),electronic media (such as PROM, EEPROM, flash PROM, COMPACTFLASH™,SMARTMEDIA™, MEMORY STICK™, etc.), or other suitable media. An exampleof a data storage cartridge that is widely employed in automated datastorage libraries for mass data storage is a magnetic tape cartridge.

In addition to data storage media, automated data storage librariestypically comprise data storage drives that store data to, and/orretrieve data from, the data storage cartridge media. Further, automateddata storage libraries typically comprise I/O stations at which datastorage cartridges are supplied or added to, or removed from, thelibrary. The transport of data storage cartridges between data storageslots, data storage drives, and I/O stations is typically accomplishedby one or more robotic accessors. Such accessors have grippers forphysically retrieving the selected data storage cartridges from thestorage slots within the automated data storage library and transportingsuch cartridges to the data storage drives by moving, for example, inthe horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) directions.

Efforts to improve the performance of traditional data storage centersattempt to minimize the cost of processing and storing data. One optionthat is employed to reduce operational costs of data centers is to runthe equipment in the data center at the high end of its environmentaloperational limits, thereby reducing cooling requirements andoperational costs of the data center. In other words, data centers arerunning increasingly hot and more humid conditions than traditional datacenters in an attempt to reduce operating costs. Magnetic tape may besusceptible to degradation when exposed to these unfavorable conditions,and therefore, this option may have negative implications for magnetictape libraries.

In an effort to control the environment within data storage libraries soas to provide improved working conditions for data storage media, datastorage drives, etc., particularly magnetic tape media and drives,environmental conditioning units may be associated with and/orincorporated into the data storage libraries themselves to control thetemperature, humidity and/or other environmental conditions within theinterior of the data storage library. While these environmentalconditioning units may effectively control the temperature, humidityand/or other conditions within the data storage libraries, theenvironmental conditions of the area surrounding the libraries remainlargely unchanged, with conditions often being higher in bothtemperature and humidity. While this may allow a data center to operateat reduced costs, it may also result in a marked temperaturedifferential between the interior and exterior environments of the datastorage libraries with environmental conditioning units. Such atemperature differential may prove problematic during service of thedata storage library and/or replacement of data storage librarycomponents such as data storage cartridges, data storage drives, etc.,as condensation may develop on replacement cartridges and other serviceparts during installation and/or removal from the data storage library.Condensation formation and accumulation on such sensitive componentry,including particularly magnetic tape media, cartridges and drives, maycause degraded performance and in worst case scenarios, componentfailure and/or data loss.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, a data storage library for the handling andstorage of a plurality of data storage cartridges is disclosed. The datastorage library comprises at least one library frame enclosure, the atleast one library frame enclosure configured to receive one or more datastorage cartridges, and at least one environmental conditioning unit forconditioning the internal environment conditions within the interior ofthe at least one library frame enclosure to be different than theenvironmental conditions exterior of the at least one library frameenclosure. The data storage library further includes at least one mediaacclimation device comprising one or more storage locations to receivethe one or more data storage cartridges therein, and further wherein theat least one media acclimation device is configured to graduallyacclimate the one or more storage locations from one or more externalenvironmental conditions to one or more internal environmentalconditions.

The at least one media acclimation device of the data storage librarymay further comprise at least one of a thermoelectric heater, athermoelectric cooler, an electric heater, a liquid heater, a liquidcooler, an air conditioner, a heat pump, an evaporative cooler, anionizer, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, one or more fans, or anycombination thereof.

The data storage library may comprise one or more import/export (I/O)stations, wherein at least a portion of the one or more I/O stations isconfigured to act as the at least one media acclimation device. The oneor more I/O stations may also comprise at least a first door on a frontsurface thereof and at least a second door on a rear surface thereof,wherein the first and second doors are configured to selectively providean isolated environment within the one or more I/O stations. In anotheraspect of the embodiment, the first door on the front surface of the oneor more I/O stations is manually operable by a user for insertion of theat least one data storage cartridge. In yet another aspect of theembodiment, the one or more I/O stations may comprise one of more fans,wherein the one or more fans are configured to selectively provideairflow from at least one of the interior environment of the libraryframe enclosures and the exterior environment of the library frameenclosures.

In accordance with another aspect of the embodiment, the data storagelibrary may comprise one or more data storage drive bays, wherein the atleast one media acclimation device is configured to fit into the one ormore data storage drive bays. The at least one media acclimation devicemay comprise at least one opening configured to provide access forinsertion and removal of at least one data storage cartridge therein.Furthermore, the at least one media acclimation device may comprise atleast one air duct in communication with an internal cavity of the atleast one media acclimation device. Alternatively, the at least onemedia acclimation device may comprise at least one liquid supply line incommunication with an internal cavity of the at least one mediaacclimation device. The data storage library may also have a roboticaccessor for accessing and transporting one or more data storagecartridges, wherein the at least one media acclimation device isincorporated into the robotic accessor.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method ofacclimating a component for insertion into or removal from a datastorage library is disclosed. The method may comprise inserting at leastone data storage cartridge into the at least one media acclimationdevice in response to at least one environmental condition within the atleast one media acclimation device being at or near the at least oneenvironmental condition outside of the data storage library. The methodmay further include adjusting at least one environmental conditionwithin the at least one media acclimation device based upon at least onemonitored environmental condition at the interior of the data storagelibrary and the at least one monitored environmental condition withinthe at least one media acclimation device. Additionally, the method maycomprise determining if the at least one environmental condition withinthe at least one media acclimation device meets a predeterminedthreshold, and removing the data storage cartridge from the at least onemedia acclimation device when it is determined that the at least onecondition within the at least one media acclimation device meets thepredetermined threshold.

The at least one environmental condition detected at the interior of thedata storage library, at the exterior of the library, and within themedia acclimation device may be at least one of the temperature leveland the humidity level. Furthermore, the data storage cartridge may bemanually inserted into the media acclimation device by a user or,alternatively, the data storage cartridge may be inserted into the mediaacclimation device by a robotic accessor within the data storagelibrary. The at least one environmental condition at the interior andexterior of the data storage library and the at least one environmentalcondition within the media acclimation device may each be determined byat least one of a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor.

In accordance with another embodiment, a computer-implemented method isdisclosed, the computer implemented method comprising monitoring atleast one environmental condition within a media acclimation deviceassociated with the data storage library, and monitoring at least oneenvironmental condition outside the media acclimation device. Thecomputer-implemented method further includes adjusting the at least oneenvironmental condition within the media acclimation device based on theat least one environmental condition outside the media acclimationdevice, and determining if the at least one environmental conditionwithin the media acclimation device meets a predetermined threshold.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of an automated datastorage library.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of another embodiment of an automated datastorage library.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior of a storage frame from thedata storage library of FIGS. 1A & 1B.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an automated data storagelibrary.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of a controllerconfiguration.

FIG. 5A is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a data storagedrive.

FIG. 5B is a rear perspective view of the data storage drive of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 is perspective view of one embodiment of a data storage cartridgehaving a cutaway portion.

FIGS. 7A-7B are perspective views of one embodiment of a multi-cartridgedeep slot cell, where FIG. 7A shows the housing in phantom lines to showthe interior of the deep slot cell.

FIGS. 8A-8D are partial side views of one embodiment of a cartridgeblocking mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a tiered data storage system, in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a partial side view of one embodiment of the interior of asystem for storing and transferring data recording media.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a data storagelibrary.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a media acclimationdevice.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a mediaacclimation device.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a mediaacclimation device.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a data storagelibrary and robotic accessor.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for acclimating atleast one data storage cartridge.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a method for acclimatingat least one data storage cartridge.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a method for acclimatingat least one data storage cartridge.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a method of acclimatingat least one data storage cartridge.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a method of acclimatingat least one data storage cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is made for the purpose of illustrating thegeneral principles of the present invention and is not meant to limitthe inventive concepts claimed herein. Further, particular featuresdescribed herein can be used in combination with other describedfeatures in each of the various possible combinations and permutations.

Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms are to be giventheir broadest possible interpretation including meanings implied fromthe specification as well as meanings understood by those skilled in theart and/or as defined in dictionaries, treatises, etc.

It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and theappended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include pluralreferents unless otherwise specified.

FIGS. 1A & 1B and FIG. 2 illustrate an automated data storage library 10which stores and retrieves data storage cartridges, containing datastorage media (not shown), from multi-cartridge deep slot storage cells100 and single cartridge storage slots 16. An example of an automateddata storage library which has a similar configuration as that depictedin FIG. 1A and FIG. 2, and may be implemented with some of the variousapproaches herein is the IBM 3584 UltraScalable Tape Library.

The library 10 of FIG. 1A comprises a left hand service bay 13, one ormore storage frames 11, and right hand service bay 14. The library 10 ofFIG. 1B comprises a left hand service bay 13, one or more storage frames11, a right hand service bay 14 and optional environmental conditioningunits 1012 housed within enclosures 1020 which may control thetemperature, humidity and/or other environmental conditions in theinterior of the library 10. While two environmental conditioning unitsare shown in FIG. 1B, it will be appreciated that more or lessenvironmental conditioning units 1012, may be associated with thelibrary, and in some circumstances the library may have no environmentalconditioning units. As will be discussed in further detail below, astorage frame may comprise an expansion component of the library. Thus,storage frames may be added or removed to expand or reduce the sizeand/or functionality of the library. According to different approaches,frames may include additional storage slots, deep storage slot cells,drives, import/export stations, accessors, operator panels, librarycontrollers, communication cards, etc. Moreover, an accessor aisle 12preferably extends between the storage frames and bays of theembodiments in FIGS. 1A & 1B thereby allowing an accessor to movebetween frames. A moveable and/or deployable panel 21 may be displacedto cover and/or block (as well uncover and/or unblock) aisle 12 fromcommunicating with the exterior of the data storage library. Panel 21may be moved and/or removed to permit access to the interior of theservice bays 13, 14.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a storage frame 11, which mayact as the base frame of the library 10 or may comprise the entirelibrary. Herein, a library frame refers to a non-expandable library, anexpandable library and/or an expansion component of a library. Thelibrary 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 may have only a single accessor 18(i.e., there are no redundant accessors) and no service bay. However, inother embodiments, a library may include multiple robotic accessorsand/or service bays.

Looking to FIG. 2, the library 10 is arranged for accessing data storagemedia in response to commands from at least one external host system(not shown). The library 10 includes a plurality of storage slots 16 onfront wall 17 and a plurality of multi-cartridge deep slot cells 100 onrear wall 19, both of which may be used for storing data storagecartridges that may contain data storage media. According to oneapproach, the storage slots 16 are configured to store a single datastorage cartridge, and the multi-cartridge deep slot cells 100 areconfigured to store a plurality of data storage cartridges. In oneaspect, the interior of the multi-cartridge deep slot cells may bearranged so that the plurality of data storage cartridges are insequential order of tiers from front to rear (e.g., see FIG. 7A).

With continued reference to FIG. 2, the storage frame 11 of the library10 may include at least one data storage drive 15, e.g., for readingand/or writing data with respect to the data storage media in the datastorage cartridges. Additionally, a first accessor 18 may be used totransport data storage cartridges containing data storage media betweenthe plurality of storage slots 16, the multi-cartridge deep slot cells100, and/or the data storage drive(s) 15. According to variousapproaches, the data storage drives 15 may be optical disk drives,magnetic tape drives, or other types of data storage drives that areused to read and/or write data with respect to the data storage media.

As illustrated, the storage frame 11 may optionally include an operatorpanel or other user interface 23, such as a web-based interface, whichallows a user to interact with the library 10. The storage frame 11 mayalso optionally comprise an upper import/export (I/O) station 24 and/ora lower I/O station 25, thereby allowing data storage cartridges to beadded (e.g., inserted or imported) to the library inventory and/orremoved (e.g., exported) from the library without having to open frontpanel 17 or otherwise disrupt library operations. Furthermore, thelibrary 10 may have one or more storage frames 11, preferably accessibleby the first accessor 18.

As described above, the storage frames 11 may be configured withdifferent components depending upon the intended function. Oneconfiguration of storage frame 11 may comprise storage slots 16 and/ormulti-cartridge deep slot cells 100, data readers or drive(s) 15, and oraccessors 18, and other optional components to store and retrieve datafrom the data storage cartridges. However, in another approach, astorage frame 11 may include storage slots 16 and/or multi-cartridgedeep slot cells 100 and no other components. The first accessor 18 mayhave a gripper assembly 20, e.g., for gripping one or more data storagecartridges, in addition to having a bar code scanner or other readingsystem, such as a cartridge memory reader or similar system mounted onthe gripper assembly 20, to “read” identifying information about thedata storage cartridge.

The service bays may be configured with different components and indifferent configurations depending upon its intended function. Theservice bay is typically another frame of the library 10 and, withoutintent on limiting the disclosure, generally provides an area to houseand perform service on the robotic accessor without interfering with theoperation of the other library frames. The service bay may include amoveable panel, barrier or door to provide access to its interior and/orto protect someone servicing an accessor or other component associatedwith the service bay. The service bay may further include one or moredata cartridge storage slots, multi-cartridge deep slot storage cells,data cartridges, accessors, data readers or drives, as well as othercomponents.

FIG. 3 depicts and schematically illustrates an automated data storagelibrary 10, in accordance with one embodiment. As an option, theautomated data storage library 10 may be implemented in conjunction withfeatures from any other embodiment listed herein, such as thosedescribed with reference to the other FIGS. Of course, however,automated data storage library 10 and others presented herein may beused in various applications and/or in permutations which may or may notbe specifically described in the illustrative embodiments listed herein.Further, the automated data storage library 10 presented herein may beused in any desired environment. Thus FIG. 3 (and the other FIGS.)should be deemed to include any and all possible permutations.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the automated data storage library 10 asdescribed in reference to FIGS. 1A & 1B and FIG. 2, is depictedaccording to one embodiment. According to a preferred approach, thelibrary 10 may employ a controller, e.g., arranged as a distributedsystem of modules with a plurality of processor nodes.

In one approach, the library is controlled, not by a central controller,but rather, by a distributed control system for receiving logicalcommands and converting the commands to physical movements of theaccessor and gripper, and for operating the drives in accordance withthe desired physical movements. The distributed control system may alsoprovide logistical support, such as providing a user interface thatallows a user to interact with the library, responding to host requestsfor element status, inventory, library status, etc. The specificcommands, the conversion of those commands to physical movements of theaccessor, gripper, controllers, and other components, and the operationof the drives may be of a type known to those of skill in the art.

While the automated data storage library 10 has been described asemploying a distributed control system, various other approachesdescribed and/or suggested herein may be implemented in automated datastorage libraries regardless of control configuration, such as, but notlimited to, an automated data storage library having one or more librarycontrollers that are not distributed.

Referring still to FIG. 3, the library 10 may have one or more storageframes 11, a left hand service bay 13 and a right hand service bay 14.The left hand service bay 13 is shown with a first accessor 18, where,as discussed above, the first accessor 18 may include a gripper assembly20 and/or a bar code scanner 22 (e.g., reading system) to “read”identifying information about the data storage cartridges depending onthe desired embodiment. Furthermore, the right hand service bay 14 isshown having a second accessor 28, which includes a gripper assembly 30and may also include a reading system 32 to “read” identifyinginformation about the data storage cartridges.

According to one approach, in the event of a failure or otherunavailability of the first accessor 18, or its gripper assembly 20,etc., the second accessor 28 may perform some or all of the functions ofthe first accessor 18. Thus in different approaches, the two accessors18, 28 may share one or more mechanical paths, they may have completelyindependent mechanical paths, or combinations thereof. In one example,the accessors 18, 28 may have a common horizontal rail with independentvertical rails to travel therealong. Moreover, it should be noted thatthe first and second accessors 18, 28 are described as first and secondfor descriptive purposes only and this description is not meant to limiteither accessor to an association with either the left hand service bay13, or the right hand service bay 14.

In an exemplary embodiment which is in no way intended to limit thedisclosure or the invention, the first and second accessors 18, 28 maypreferably move their grippers in at least two directions, called thehorizontal “X” direction and vertical “Y” direction, e.g., to retrieveand grip, deliver and release, load and unload, etc. the data storagecartridges at the storage slots 16, multi-cartridge deep slot cells 100,data storage drives 15, etc.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, library 10 receives commands fromone or more host systems 40, 41, 42. The host systems 40, 41, 42, suchas host servers, communicate with the library directly, e.g., on line 80(e.g., path), through one or more control ports (not shown), or throughone or more data storage drives 15 on paths 81, 82. Thus, in differentapproaches, the host systems 40, 41, 42 may provide commands to accessparticular data storage cartridges and move the cartridges, for example,between the storage slots 16, the deep slot cells 100, and the datastorage drives 15. The commands are typically logical commandsidentifying the data storage cartridges or data storage cartridge media,and/or logical locations for accessing the media. Furthermore, it shouldbe noted that the terms “commands” and “work requests” are usedinterchangeably herein to refer to such communications from the hostsystem 40, 41, 42 to the library 10 as are intended to result inaccessing particular data storage media within the library 10 dependingon the desired approach.

According to one embodiment, the library 10 may be controlled by alibrary controller. Moreover, in various approaches, the librarycontroller may include a distributed control system receiving thelogical commands from hosts, determining the required actions, and/orconverting the actions to physical movements of the first and/or secondaccessors 18, 28 and/or gripper assemblies 20, 30. In another approach,the distributed control system may have a plurality of processor nodes,each having one or more computer processors. According to one example ofa distributed control system, a communication processor node 50 may belocated in a storage frame 11. The communication processor node providesa communication link for receiving the host commands, either directly orthrough the drives 15, via at least one external interface, e.g.,coupled to line 80.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the communication processor node 50 mayadditionally provide a line 70 for communicating with the data storagedrives 15, e.g., a communication link. As illustrated, the communicationprocessor node 50 may preferably be located in the storage frame 11,e.g., close to the data storage drives 15. Furthermore, one or moreadditional work processor nodes may be provided to form an exemplarydistributed processor system, which may comprise, e.g., a work processornode 52 located at first accessor 18, and that is coupled to thecommunication processor node 50 via a network 60, 157. According todifferent approaches, each work processor node may respond to receivedcommands that are broadcast thereto from any communication processornode, and the work processor nodes may also direct the operation of theaccessors, e.g., providing move commands. An XY processor node 55 may beprovided and may be located at an XY system of first accessor 18. Asillustrated, the XY processor node 55 is coupled to the network 60, 157,and is responsive to the move commands, operating the XY system toposition the gripper assembly 20.

Also, an operator panel processor node 59 may be provided at theoptional operator panel 23 for providing an interface for communicatingbetween the operator panel and the communication processor node 50, thework processor nodes 52, 252, and the XY processor nodes 55, 255.

A network 60, for example comprising a common bus, is provided, couplingthe various processor nodes. The network may comprise a robust wiringnetwork, such as the commercially available Controller Area Network(CAN) bus system, which is a multi-drop network, having a standardaccess protocol and wiring standards, for example, as defined by CiA,the CAN in Automation Association, Am Weich Selgarten 26, D¬91058Erlangen, Germany. Other networks, such as Ethernet, or a wirelessnetwork system, such as RF or infrared, may be employed in the libraryas is known to those of skill in the art. In addition, multipleindependent networks may also be used to couple the various processornodes.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the communication processor node 50 is coupledto each of the data storage drives 15 of a storage frame 11, via lines70, and may communicate with the drives 15 and with host systems 40, 41,42. Alternatively, the host systems 40, 41, 42 may be directly coupledto the communication processor node 50, at line 80 (e.g., input) forexample, or to control port devices (not shown) which connect thelibrary to the host system(s) with a library interface similar to thedrive/library interface. As is known to those of skill in the art,various communication arrangements may be employed for communicationwith the hosts and with the data storage drives. In the example of FIG.3, lines 80 and 81 are intended to be Ethernet and a SCSI bus,respectively, e.g., and may serve as host connections. However, path 82comprises an example of a Fibre Channel bus which is a high speed serialdata interface, allowing transmission over greater distances than theSCSI bus systems.

According to some approaches, the data storage drives 15 may be in closeproximity to the communication processor node 50, and may employ a shortdistance communication scheme, such as Ethernet, or a serial connection,such as RS-422. Thus, the data storage drives 15 may be individuallycoupled to the communication processor node 50 by lines 70.Alternatively, the data storage drives 15 may be coupled to thecommunication processor node 50 through one or more networks.

Furthermore, additional storage frames 11 may be provided, whereby eachis preferably coupled to the adjacent storage frame. According tovarious approaches, any of the additional storage frames 11 may includecommunication processor nodes 50, storage slots 16, storage cells 100,data storage drives 15, networks 60, etc.

Moreover, as described above, the automated data storage library 10 maycomprise a plurality of accessors. For example, in addition to firstaccessors 18 in service bay frame 13, a second accessor 28, for example,is shown in a right hand service bay 14 of FIG. 3. The second accessor28 may include a gripper assembly 30 for accessing the data storagemedia, and an XY system 255 for moving the second accessor 28. Thesecond accessor 28 may run on the same horizontal mechanical path as thefirst accessor 18, and/or on an adjacent (e.g., separate) path.Moreover, the illustrative control system additionally includes anextension network 200 which forms a network coupled to network 60 of thestorage frame(s) 11 and to network 157 of left hand service bay 13.

In FIG. 3 and the accompanying description, the first and secondaccessors are associated with the left hand service bay 13 and the righthand service bay 14 respectively. However, this is for illustrativepurposes and there may not be an actual association. Thus, according toanother approach, network 157 may not be associated with the left handservice bay 13 and network 200 may not be associated with the right handservice bay 14. Moreover, depending on the design of the library, it maynot be necessary to have a left hand service bay 13 and/or a right handservice bay 14 at all.

An automated data storage library 10 typically comprises one or morecontrollers to direct the operation of the automated data storagelibrary. Moreover, host computers and data storage drives typicallyinclude similar controllers. A library controller may take manydifferent forms and may comprise, for example, but is not limited to, anembedded system, a distributed control system, a personal computer, aworkstation, etc. The term “library controller” as used herein isintended in its broadest sense as a device that includes at least oneprocessor, and optionally further circuitry and/or logic, forcontrolling and/or providing at least some aspects of libraryoperations.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a typical controller 400 is shown with aprocessor 402, Random Access Memory (RAM) 403, nonvolatile memory 404,device specific circuits 401, and I/O interface 405. Alternatively, theRAM 403 and/or nonvolatile memory 404 may be contained in the processor402 as could the device specific circuits 401 and I/O interface 405. Theprocessor 402 may comprise, for example, an off-the-shelfmicroprocessor, custom processor, Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA),Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), discrete logic, etc. TheRAM 403 is typically used to hold variable data, stack data, executableinstructions, etc.

According to various approaches, the nonvolatile memory 404 may compriseany type of nonvolatile memory such as, but not limited to, ElectricallyErasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), flash Programmable ReadOnly Memory (PROM), battery backup RAM, hard disk drives, etc. However,the nonvolatile memory 404 is typically used to hold the executablefirmware and any nonvolatile data. Moreover, the I/O interface 405comprises a communication interface that allows the processor 402 tocommunicate with devices external to the controller. Examples maycomprise, but are not limited to, Ethernet, serial interfaces such asRS-232, USB (Universal Serial Bus) or Small Computer Systems Interface(SCSI). The device specific circuits 401 provide additional hardware toenable the controller 400 to perform unique functions including, but notlimited to, motor control of an accessor cartridge gripper. Moreover,the device specific circuits 401 may include electronics that provide,by way of example but not limitation, Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)control, Analog to Digital Conversion (ADC), Digital to AnalogConversion (DAC), etc. In addition, all or part of the device specificcircuits 401 may reside outside the controller 400.

While the automated data storage library 10 is described as employing adistributed control system, the various approaches described and/orsuggested herein may be implemented in various automated data storagelibraries regardless of control configuration, including, but notlimited to, an automated data storage library having one or more librarycontrollers that are not distributed. Moreover, a library controller maycomprise one or more dedicated controllers of a library, depending onthe desired embodiment. For example, there may be a primary controllerand a backup controller. In addition, a library controller may compriseone or more processor nodes of a distributed control system. Accordingto one example, communication processor node 50 (e.g., of FIG. 3) maycomprise the library controller while the other processor nodes (ifpresent) may assist the library controller and/or may provide backup orredundant functionality. In another example, communication processornode 50 and work processor node 52 may work cooperatively to form thelibrary controller while the other processor nodes (if present) mayassist the library controller and/or may provide backup or redundantfunctionality. Still further, all of the processor nodes may comprisethe library controller. According to various approaches described and/orsuggested herein, a library controller may have a single processor orcontroller, or it may include multiple processors or controllers.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate the front 501 and rear 502 views of a datastorage drive 15, according to one embodiment. In the example depictedin FIGS. 5A-5B, the data storage drive 15 comprises a hot-swap drivecanister, which is in no way intended to limit the disclosure or theinvention. In fact, any configuration of data storage drive may be usedwhether or not it includes a hot-swap canister. As discussed above, adata storage drive 15 is used to read and/or write data with respect tothe data storage media, and may additionally communicate with a memorywhich is separate from the media, and is located within the cartridge.Thus, according to one approach, a data storage cartridge having datastorage media may be placed into the data storage drive 15 at opening503.

Furthermore, FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a data storagecartridge 600 with a cartridge memory 610 shown in a cutaway portion ofFIG. 6, which is in no way intended to limit the disclosure or theinvention. In fact, any configuration of data storage cartridge may beused whether or not it comprises a cartridge memory. According tovarious approaches, the media of the data storage cartridge may includeany type of media on which data may be stored, including but not limitedto magnetic media, e.g., magnetic tape, disks, etc.; optical media,e.g., optical tape, disks, etc.; electronic media, e.g., PROM, EEPROM,flash PROM, COMPACTFLASH™, SMARTMEDIA™, MEMORY STICK™, etc.; etc., orother suitable media. Moreover, an example of a data storage cartridgethat is widely employed in automated data storage libraries for massdata storage is a magnetic tape cartridge in which the media is magnetictape.

Looking now to FIGS. 7A-7B, a multi-cartridge deep slot cell 100 havingbiasing springs 152 is depicted according to one embodiment. As shown inthe illustrative embodiment, the multi-cartridge deep slot cell 100comprises a housing 110 defining an interior space 115. A plurality ofstorage slots 120 is disposed within the housing 110, and may beconfigured for storing a plurality of data storage cartridges 600,depending on the desired approach. Alternatively, the multi-cartridgedeep slot cell 100 may be built into the frame of the automated datastorage library according to one approach.

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate an embodiment of a cartridge blocking mechanism150 having a retaining gate 660 that retains the data storage cartridgesin the multi-cartridge deep slot cell 100 according to one embodiment.As illustrated, according to one approach, the retaining gate 660 may beexternally attached to a multi-cartridge deep slot cell 100, relative toa front opening 503 (See FIG. 5A) of the multi-cartridge deep slot cell100, whereby the retaining gate 660 can be activated by an accessor 18,e.g., of an automated data storage library. Moreover, the retaining gate660 allows for positive cartridge retention against the pressure ofbiasing springs (see 152 of FIG. 7A), and ensures that one or more datastorage cartridges do not get pushed out of the multi-cartridge deepslot cell 100 simultaneously, while allowing the biasing springs (shownin FIG. 7A) of the multi-cartridge deep slot cell 100 to continuouslypush data storage cartridge(s) to the opening in a multi-cartridge deepslot cell 100. Thus, according to one approach, the accessor 18 may openthe retaining gate 660 to gain access to the data storage cartridge intier 1 and, upon its extraction, the biasing spring 152 moves thecartridge(s) positioned behind the extracted cartridge forward, therebypromoting the cartridge(s) by one tier as will soon become apparent.

The basic working of the retaining gate is that the gate prevents thedata storage cartridge(s) from being pushed out of a multi-cartridgedeep slot cell 100. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8A-8D, a retaininggate 660 may be lifted (See FIG. 8B) by, for example, accessor 18 or bya front storage cartridge 642 for cartridge removal/insertion into amulti-cartridge deep slot cell 100. Specifically, retaining gate 660 hasa pivoting arm 661 mounted on multi-cartridge deep slot cell 100 via apivoting post (not shown) that may be integral to or connected to amulti-cartridge deep slot cell 100. Retaining gate 660 includes a catch662 whereby a thrust force TF through data storage cartridges 644-642caused by the pushing mechanism biasing springs 152 (shown in FIG. 7Abut not shown in FIG. 8A) of multi-cartridge deep slot cell 100 causesretaining gate 660 to stay closed in a retaining position as shown inFIG. 8A. Moreover, the retaining gate 660 is preferably biased such thatit closes in the downward direction over the front opening ofmulti-cartridge deep slot cell 100. This constant biasing may beachieved via gravity as shown in FIG. 8A or by implementing a springforce, e.g., attached to retaining gate 660 (not shown).

For removal of front storage cartridge 642 by accessor 18 frommulti-cartridge deep slot cell 100, retaining gate 660 must be liftedupward to a releasing position whereby catch 662 of retaining gate 660is disengaged from front storage cartridge 642. This can be seen in FIG.8B where accessor 18 interfaces with retaining gate 660 by providing alifting force. Once retaining gate 660 is lifted to the releasingposition and accessor 18 is engaged with storage cartridge 642, accessor18 can pull storage cartridge 642 out of multi-cartridge deep slot cell100 and into accessor 18 without any interference of retaining gate 660as shown in FIG. 8C. In view of storage cartridges 644 and 643 beingstored in multi-cartridge deep slot cell 100, retaining gate 660 mustreturn to its retaining position to prevent storage cartridges 644 and643 from being ejected from multi-cartridge deep slot cell 100 by thethrust force TF of the pushing mechanism (not shown in FIG. 8C). Duringextraction of front storage cartridge 642 through the front opening ofmulti-cartridge deep slot cell 100, the retaining gate 660, which isbiased downward, moves back to the retaining position to engage storagecartridge 643.

Once front storage cartridge 642 is extracted and storage cartridges 643and 644 are retained from being pushed out of multi-cartridge deep slotcell 100, retaining gate 660 has successfully completed its cartridgeretrieval process. In FIG. 8D, retaining gate 660 demonstrates itsability to insert the data storage cartridges into multi-cartridge deepslot cell 100. When accessor 18 begins to insert storage cartridge 642back into multi-cartridge deep slot cell 100, retaining gate 660 islifted to its releasing position to allow storage cartridge 642 throughthe front opening of multi-cartridge deep slot cell 100. Catch 662 ofretaining gate 660 interfaces with a rear portion of storage cartridge642, in particular a beveled surface 663 of catch 662 as shown in FIG.8D, whereby retaining gate 660 is lifted to its releasing position asshown in FIG. 8B due to storage cartridge 642 being pushed inmulti-cartridge deep slot cell 100 by accessor 18. In doing so, storagecartridges 644, 643 are pushed deeper into multi-cartridge deep slotcell 100 by storage cartridge 642 in multi-cartridge deep slot cell 100by accessor 18. Thus, the accessor is able to provide a force greaterthan the thrust force TF antiparallel thereto, to overcome thedirectional biasing of the storage cartridges 644, 643. Upon fullinsertion of the data storage cartridge into multi-cartridge deep slotcell 100, retaining gate 660 moves to its retaining position to engagestorage cartridge 642 as shown in FIG. 8A.

Thus, looking to various embodiments presented herein, access to astorage slot may include the ability to remove a cartridge from astorage slot, the ability to place a cartridge into a storage slot, orcombinations thereof.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the storage slots from top tobottom are considered to be in parallel and comprise the same tier.Moreover, the storage slots from front to back, in a particular row, areconsidered to be in series and comprise sequential tiers.

In one embodiment, one or more data storage cartridges may be added intothe library, e.g., at an I/O station 24, 25, whereby the controller ofthe automated data storage library 10 may then control and/or operatethe accessor(s) 18, 28 to transport the cartridge(s) to specificmulti-cartridge deep slot cell(s) 100, and place the cartridge(s)therein. Similarly, the controller may operate the accessor(s) toselectively extract, place and transport data storage cartridges withrespect to the single cartridge storage slots 16, and/or transportinserted or added cartridge(s) to specific single cartridge storageslots 16.

Now referring to FIG. 9, a storage system 900 is shown according to oneembodiment. Note that some of the elements shown in FIG. 9 may beimplemented as hardware and/or software, according to variousembodiments. In some approaches, the storage system 900 may beimplemented in an automated data storage library such as that shown inFIGS. 1-2. In other approaches, an automated data storage library suchas that shown in FIGS. 1-2 may be a tier of the storage system 900.

The storage system 900 may include a storage system manager 912 forcommunicating with a plurality of media on at least one higher storagetier 902 and at least one lower storage tier 906. The higher storagetier(s) 902 preferably may include one or more random access and/ordirect access media 904, such as hard disks in hard disk drives (HDDs),nonvolatile memory (NVM), solid state memory in solid state drives(SSDs), flash memory, SSD arrays, flash memory arrays, etc., and/orothers noted herein or known in the art. The lower storage tier(s) 906may preferably include one or more lower performing storage media 908,including sequential access media such as magnetic tape in tape drivesand/or optical media, slower accessing HDDs, slower accessing SSDs,etc., and/or others noted herein or known in the art. One or moreadditional storage tiers 916 may include any combination of storagememory media as desired by a designer of the system 900. Also, any ofthe higher storage tiers 902 and/or the lower storage tiers 906 mayinclude some combination of storage devices and/or storage media.

The storage system manager 912 may communicate with the storage media904, 908 on the higher storage tier(s) 902 and lower storage tier(s) 906through a network 910, such as a storage area network (SAN), as shown inFIG. 9, or some other suitable network type. The storage system manager912 may also communicate with one or more host systems (not shown)through a host interface 914, which may or may not be a part of thestorage system manager 912. The storage system manager 912 and/or anyother component of the storage system 900 may be implemented in hardwareand/or software, and may make use of a processor (not shown) forexecuting commands of a type known in the art, such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. Of course, anyarrangement of a storage system may be used, as will be apparent tothose of skill in the art upon reading the present description.

In more embodiments, the storage system 900 may include any number ofdata storage tiers, and may include the same or different data storagemedia within each storage tier. For example, each data storage tier mayinclude the same type of data storage media, such as HDDs, SSDs,sequential access media (tape in tape drives, optical disk in opticaldisk drives, etc.), direct access media (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc.), or anycombination of data storage media types. In one such configuration, ahigher storage tier 902, may include a majority of SSD storage media forstoring data in a higher performing storage environment, and remainingstorage tiers, including lower storage tier 906 and additional storagetiers 916 may include any combination of SSDs, HDDs, tape drives, etc.,for storing data in a lower performing storage environment. In this way,more frequently accessed data, data having a higher priority, dataneeding to be accessed more quickly, etc., may be stored to the higherstorage tier 902, while data not having one of these attributes may bestored to the additional storage tiers 916, including lower storage tier906. Of course, one of skill in the art, upon reading the presentdescriptions, may devise many other combinations of storage media typesto implement into different storage schemes, according to theembodiments presented herein.

According to some embodiments, the storage system (such as 900) mayinclude logic configured to receive a request to open a data set, logicconfigured to determine if the requested data set is stored to a lowerstorage tier 906 of a tiered data storage system 900 in multipleassociated portions, logic configured to move each associated portion ofthe requested data set to a higher storage tier 902 of the tiered datastorage system 900, and logic configured to assemble the requested dataset on the higher storage tier 902 of the tiered data storage system 900from the associated portions. Of course, this logic may be implementedas a method on any device and/or system or as a computer programproduct, according to various embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a system 1000 includes a frame 1002 of anautomated data storage library 1004. As described above, automatedlibraries are typically used to store cartridges and drives in largearrays to store large amounts of data. Thus, an interior of frame 1002is illustrated as a tape library in one embodiment, and is depicted asincluding one or more tape drives 1006, an area for storing tapecartridges (e.g., multi-cartridge deep slot cells 1008 and singlecartridge storage slots 1009), and a robotic accessor 1010, among othercomponents which would be apparent to one skilled in the art uponreading the present description (e.g., see FIG. 2 above).

Automated libraries have traditionally operated in environments havingideal temperature and humidity levels within the operationalspecifications of the data storage media and drives. As such, automatedlibraries have previously relied on outside air to flow through thelibrary to keep the drives and data storage media cool as drives heatthe air during the process of normal operation (e.g., such as readingand writing data to data storage media). However, as mentioned above,this limits the number of environments an automated data storage librarycan be implemented in. If the air outside the library is not cool or dryenough, exposing the interior of the library thereto may be harmful tothe data storage media and/or the drives. One type of automated librarywhich may be susceptible to exposure to environmental conditions, suchas, for example, heat and/or humidity, are automated tape librariescontaining tape media and tape drives.

System 1000 of FIG. 10 further includes an optional environmentalconditioning unit 1012 associated with, preferably coupled to the frame1002. The environmental condition unit 1012 may be integrated with andcoupled to the frame 1002. For the purposes of the present disclosure,it is to be understood that an environmental conditioning unit may beany device which conditions the air and/or the surrounding environmentand is able to change the environmental conditions. The environmentalconditions may include (but are not limited to) temperature, humidity,ionization, pressure, etc. In one embodiment, the environmentalconditioning unit may be an air-conditioning unit. In other embodimentsthe environmental conditioning unit may be a thermoelectric heater, athermoelectric cooler, an electric heater, a liquid cooler, an airconditioner, a heat pump, an evaporate cooler, an ionizer, a de-ionizer,a humidifier, a dehumidifier, one or more fans, etc. An environmentalconditioning unit in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure may increase or decrease the temperature, humidity, pressure,etc. The environmental conditioning unit 1012 may be coupled to an uppersurface 1014 (e.g., the roof) of the frame 1002 as shown in FIG. 1B andFIG. 10. The environmental conditioning unit 1012 preferably operateswithout negatively affecting the operating conditions in the frame 1002.However, an environmental conditioning unit may be functionallyassociated with the frame 1002 by positioning the environmentalconditioning unit elsewhere and using ducts to route the air to theinterior of the frame 1002, coupling the environmental conditioning unitto a side of the frame 1002, coupling the environmental conditioningunit to a bottom of the frame 1002 (underneath the frame 1002), etc.,depending on the desired approach.

The environmental conditioning unit 1012 is preferably configured suchthat it may regulate the relative conditions (e.g., temperature,humidity, pressure, ionization, contaminant presence via filtering,etc.) inside the frame 1002. Thus, according to different approaches,the environmental conditioning unit may be able to reduce thetemperature in the interior of the frame 1002 and/or reduce the relativehumidity of the interior of the frame 1002, depending on the type ofenvironmental conditioning unit 1012 employed. The environmentalconditioning unit 1012 is preferably configured to turn on and off asdesired to maintain a selected temperature, humidity and/or otherconditions in the interior of the frame 1002. Alternatively, theenvironmental conditioning unit may have a fan and the fan can be leftalways on to keep air circulating within the interior of the frame. Inone embodiment, the environmental conditioning unit may be an airconditioning unit and the fan may be continuously on and the condensermay turn on and off to maintain a selected temperature and/or humidityin the interior of the frame 1002.

As would be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the environmentalconditioning unit 1012 may be an air conditioning unit and may be ableto adjust the relative temperature and/or humidity of the interior ofthe frame 1002 in a conventional manner. Cold air may flow into theinterior of the frame 1002 via an inlet air duct 1030 which may connectthe environmental conditioning unit 1012 to the interior of the frame1002, and form an inlet 1035 in the upper surface 1014 of the frame1002. Specifically, an inlet air duct 1030 may direct the air cooled bythe environmental conditioning unit 1012 into the interior of the frame1002, e.g., where the majority of the data storage media may be stored.As a result, air flow is created from the environmental conditioningunit 1012 to the interior of the frame 1002, as indicated by arrows1024. This air flow may be induced by a fan included in theenvironmental conditioning unit 1012 and/or by using the fans in the oneor more tape drives 1006, as will be described in further detail below.

Once in the interior of the frame 1002, the air flow may extend past themulti-cartridge deep slot cells 1008 and single cartridge storage slots1009, eventually being carried past and/or through the one or more tapedrives 1006. Thus, the air being cycled through the environmentalconditioning unit transfers heat from the interior of the frame 1002 andthe tape drives 1006. A baffle or baffles 1026 are preferably configuredto isolate hot air produced by (e.g., exiting) the tape drives 1006 fromthe area for storing tape cartridges. In other words, a baffle orbaffles 1026 are preferably configured to create hot and cold airseparation in the interior of the frame 1002. As mentioned above,magnetic tape and other magnetic media may degrade when exposed toundesirable (e.g., hot, humid, etc.) conditions. Thus, it is preferredto inhibit and/or prevent the heat produced by the tape drives 1006 fromreturning to the area for storing tape cartridges.

The air flow is preferably directed through the gaps in the verticalbaffle, allowing the conditioned air to flow through each of the tapedrives 1006. The gaps in the vertical baffle may also be used by therobotic accessor 1010 to provide tape cartridges to the tape drives1006. Moreover, the horizontal baffle is preferably used to prevent airfrom flowing to the multi-cartridge deep slot cells 1008 once it haspassed through the tape drives 1006. The air exiting the tape drives ishot (e.g., at least hotter than when it left the environmentalconditioning unit 1012), and may negatively affect exposed magnetictape. Thus, air exiting the tape drives 1006 is preferably directed backto the environmental conditioning unit 1012 to be conditioned (cooled,dehumidified, filtered, etc.) for further use as would be appreciated byone skilled in the art upon reading the present description. Althoughthe air flow is preferably directed from the environmental conditioningunit 1012 to the interior of the frame 1002, and from the interior ofthe frame 1002 back to the environmental conditioning unit 1012, theparticular path that the air flow is shown as extending along in thepresent embodiment by arrows 1024 is in no way intended to limit thedisclosure or the invention.

With continued reference to FIG. 10, system 1000 may include anenclosure 1020 for the environmental conditioning unit 1012. Anadditional fan 1040 may be included in the enclosure 1020 for passingambient air over external components of the environmental conditioningunit 1012 to further promote heating, cooling and/or conditioning of theair. Moreover, the enclosure 1020 may include an opening, a baffle orbaffles, etc. to direct ambient air exterior to the library 1004 towardan inlet 1022 of the environmental conditioning unit 1012.

In one embodiment, any vents, voids, seams, etc. in the frame 1002 ofthe library 1004, other than inlet 1035 and an outlet 1032 in an uppersurface 1014 of the frame 1002, are preferably sealed such that air fromoutside the frame 1002 is restricted and/or impeded from entering theinterior thereof. This may effectively seal the frame 1002 of theautomated data storage library 1004 such that the air flow circulatingthrough the environmental conditioning unit 1012 is the only air movinginto and out of the interior of the frame 1002. As a result, tape drives1006, magnetic tape media stored in the library 1004, etc., or othercomponents in the frame 1002 may be isolated from the environmentexternal of the frame 1002/library 1004 and any unfavorable conditionswhich may be associated therewith. The frame 1002 may be sealed usingany processes which would be apparent to one skilled in the art uponreading the present description, e.g., including but not limited toinserting foam, implementing insulating seals, etc. New frames may bebuilt without any vents, voids, seams, etc. The housing and panelsenclosing the frame 1002 may also be insulated to prevent or inhibitunconditioned air from entering the frame 1002.

The frame 1002 may also include one or more environmental sensors 1050exterior to the library 1004 and may also include one or more sensors1055 exterior to the library 1004 but inside the enclosure 1020 of theenvironmental conditioning unit 1012. In one embodiment the sensors 1055may be located in front of inlet 1022 of the environmental conditioningunit 1012. The environmental sensors 1050, 1055 may be any sensorappropriate for determining the environmental conditions at the sensorlocation, such as one or more temperature sensors, one or more humiditysensors, one or more pressure sensors, etc. The one or moreenvironmental sensors 1050, 1055 may be in communication withenvironmental conditioning unit 1012 and/or a library controller, suchas library controller 400 shown and described with respect to FIG. 4.The one or more signals provided by the environmental sensors 1050, 1055may be utilized to control (e.g., adjust) the output and operation ofthe environmental conditioning unit 1012.

System 1000 illustrated in FIG. 10 may further comprise one or moreenvironmental sensors 1028 disposed within the interior of the library1002. The environmental sensor(s) may be any appropriate sensor fordetermining the environmental conditions within the frame 1002, such as,for example, one or more temperature sensors, one or more humiditysensors, one or more pressure sensors, etc. The one or moreenvironmental sensors 1028 may be in communication with environmentalconditioning unit 1012 and/or a library controller, such as controller400 shown and described with respect to FIG. 4. As such, the signalprovided by the one or more environmental sensors 1028 may be utilizedto control (e.g., adjust) the output and operation of the environmentalconditioning unit 1012.

Although the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10 includes a single frame1002 and a single environmental conditioning unit 1012, otherembodiments may include additional frames and/or environmentalconditioning units.

While a data storage library having an integrated environmentalconditioning unit advantageously controls the environmental conditionswithin the library, some challenges may exist when components withinsuch a data storage library need to be serviced or replaced. As notedabove, many data centers are now maintained at higher temperatures andhigher humidity levels to reduce the costs relating to cooling the datacenter. For this reason, environmental conditions of the data center maybe substantially different from those within a data storage library,particularly a data storage library having an environmental conditioningunit. As such, a component (such as a data storage cartridge) that ismoved abruptly from the warm, humid environment of the data center, forexample, to the cool, dry environment of the data storage library maydevelop condensation on surfaces thereof. Additionally, movingcomponents (such as a data storage cartridge) from the cool, less humidenvironment of the data storage library to the warmer, more humid datacenter may also develop condensation on surfaces. Moisture build-up onsurfaces of sensitive components such as data storage cartridges andtape drives is undesirable, as moisture may lead to failure of thecomponents and/or data loss. Tape cartridges and magnetic tape media maybe susceptible to the formation of condensation which may negativelyimpact the performance of a tape library.

Thus, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, one or moremedia acclimation devices may be associated with a data storage libraryso as to gradually acclimate components (e.g., data storage cartridges)that are moved from a first environment (e.g., a hot and humid datacenter) into a second environment (e.g., a cool and dry data storagelibrary), in order to inhibit and/or avoid undesirable effects (e.g.,the formation and/or accumulation of condensation and moisture).Similarly, the one or more media acclimation devices may also acclimatethe components to be moved from the second environment (e.g., a cool anddry data storage library) into the first environment (e.g., a hot andhumid data center). To gradually change the environment within the mediaacclimation device(s), one or more media acclimation devices may beassociated with and/or incorporate one or more environmental controldevices, such as an electric heater, a thermoelectric heater, athermoelectric cooler, a liquid heater, a liquid cooler, an airconditioner, a heat pump, an evaporative cooler, an ionizer, adeionizer, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, one or more fans, a filter, orany known environmental device, and combinations thereof that may changeenvironmental conditions. Herein, a library environmental conditioningunit may serve as the environmental control device. For example, alibrary environmental conditioning unit may be the environmental controldevice for the media acclimation device and the conditioned air from theenvironmental conditioning unit may be delivered to the mediaacclimation device in a controlled fashion, as will be described.

The media acclimation device may take many forms and in some embodimentsmay comprise a housing or enclosure that insulates, separates and/orisolates the interior environment of the media acclimation device fromthe interior of the data storage library and/or from the exterior of thedata storage library. In some embodiments the media acclimation devicemay have one or more access ports or openings for receiving data storagetapes, and the one or more access ports or openings may have one or moreenvironmental barriers (e.g., a door, hatch, cover, air curtain, hangingslots or flaps, split membrane, separable membrane or slot that openswhen a cartridge is inserted or removed, or any other method ofproviding an environmental barrier at an opening). In embodiments, theacclimation device may include one or more modified I/O stations, datastorage cartridge slots, deep slot storage cells, modified data storagedrive bays and/or modified assessors.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the media acclimation devicecomprises one or more storage slots or locations for receipt of one ormore data storage cartridges. The media acclimation device may includeindividual storage slots, with one or more environmental controldevices, e.g. thermoelectric elements, associated with, located in oraround one or more storage slots. Alternatively, the media acclimationdevice may comprise a group of storage slots, with one or moreenvironmental devices associated with, located on and/or around thegroup of storage slots. The one or more storage slots may be inside anenclosure to help maintain the environmental conditions. In addition,the one or more storage slots may have a flap or door that helpsmaintain the environment inside the slot. For example, the deep storageslot cell 100 in FIGS. 7A and 7B may be modified to include or form amedia acclimation device which may contain one or more slots orlocations for holding a plurality of data storage cartridges much likethe deep storage slot cell described with respect to FIGS. 7A and 7B.The media acclimation device may comprise the entire modified deepstorage slot cell or a portion thereof.

The modified deep storage slot cell and/or single storage slots formingor including the media acclimation device may be constructed to fit intoan existing slot of a data storage library. In one embodiment the deepstorage slot cell 100 and/or single storage slots 16 may be modified tohave a door to act as and form a barrier to isolate the mediaacclimation device from the interior of the data storage library, and/orfrom the exterior of the data storage library. In another embodiment,the deep storage slot cell and/or single storage slots may be modifiedto form a media acclimation device that includes one or moreenvironmental control devices associated with, located in or around themedia acclimation device to change the environmental conditions in themedia acclimation device. Alternatively or additionally, the modifieddeep slot storage cell and/or single storage slot(s) having or formingthe media acclimation device may have one or more environmental sensorsassociated with, located within, around or exterior to the mediaacclimation device to monitor environmental conditions (e.g.,temperature, humidity, etc.) within the media acclimation device andoutside the media acclimation device. The one or more environmentalsensors may be in communication with an environmental control deviceand/or a library controller, such as controller 400 shown and describedwith respect to FIG. 4. The communication of the one or moreenvironmental sensors may be utilized to control (e.g., adjust) theoutput and operation of the environmental control device. Anotherexample of a media acclimation device comprising one or more storageslots is a magazine. A magazine is a removable enclosure that containsone or more storage slots. Storage slot as used herein refers to aphysical location, either fixed or removable, for storing or holding acartridge.

In one example, FIG. 11 illustrates a library frame 2000, whereinlibrary frame 2000 has a front access door 2004 that is normally closed.Library frame 2000 is similar (but not identical) to library frame 10described above with respect to FIG. 2. Front access door 2004 comprisesan upper I/O station 2006 and lower I/O station 2007, which enable datastorage cartridges to be imported (e.g., inserted) into one or morestorage slots within the upper I/O station 2006 and/or the lower I/Ostation 2007 by an operator for eventual retrieval by an interioraccessor, much like the upper I/O station 24 and lower I/O station 25described with respect to FIG. 2. However, in one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, at least a portion of at least one of I/O stations2006, 2007 comprises a media acclimation device 2012 as illustrated inFIG. 15. In one embodiment, one or both of I/O stations 2006, 2007 mayhave a door 2008 on their respective exterior-facing, front sides so asto maintain the environment conditions within the I/O stations 2006,2007. Door 2008 may help control access to the media cartridges in theI/O stations and to allow the I/O station to be locked, and may bespecifically designed to act as an environmental barrier. For example,door 2008 may be insulated and may provide a seal when closed.Furthermore, one or more of I/O stations 2006, 2007 may also comprise atleast one second door 2011 on an interior-facing side thereof, asillustrated in FIG. 15. Accordingly, the one or more exterior doors 2008and one or more interior doors 2011 may help isolate the mediaacclimation device 2012 from the interior and exterior of the datastorage library (the library frame) and may help maintain theenvironmental conditions inside the I/O stations 2006, 2007, as will bedescribed further below.

Either one or both of the exterior door 2008 and the interior door 2011may comprise an electric door controlled by a library controller, suchas controller 400 shown and described with respect to FIG. 4.Alternatively, either or both of the exterior door 2008 and the interiordoor 2011 may comprise a mechanical door, which may be controlled (i.e.,opened or closed) by certain movements of a robot accessor and/or by themanual removal of a data storage cartridge stored within I/O stations2006, 2007. Additionally, or alternatively, the exterior door 2008and/or interior door 2011 may be manually moved by an operator ortechnician. Additionally, or alternatively, the exterior door 2008and/or interior door 2011 may be moved by one or more electro mechanicaldevices (e.g., motors, actuators, etc.). The electro mechanical devicesmay be controlled by a library controller, such as controller 400 shownand described with respect to FIG. 4. Either one or both of the exteriordoor 2008 and/or interior door 2011 may comprise a locking mechanismthat prevents the door from being opened until the environmentalconditions on one side of the door are within a range of theenvironmental conditions on the other side of the door. The lockingmechanism may be controlled by a library controller, such as controller400 shown and described with respect to FIG. 4.

One or more environmental sensors 2010 may also be associated with,disposed on or near library frame 2000, in this embodiment, preferablythe exterior of the library frame, so as to monitor the environmentalconditions (such as, for example, temperature, humidity, etc.) outsideof the data storage library (i.e., within the data center). Theenvironmental sensor(s) 2010 may be in communication with a librarycontroller, such as controller 400 shown and described with respect toFIG. 4. One or more environmental sensors may also be associated with,positioned in and/or near the media acclimation device formed by atleast a portion of the I/O stations 2006, 2007 to monitor theenvironmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.) inside themedia acclimation chamber 2012. The one or more environmental sensorsassociated with, positioned inside, and/or near the media acclimationdevice 2012 also may be in communication with the library controller,such as controller 400 shown and described in FIG. 4. The communicationof any or all of the environmental sensors may be utilized to control(e.g., adjust) the output and operation of the environmental controldevice. In another example, the I/O stations 2006, 2007 may comprisemagazines and may not have exterior doors 2008. The magazines maycomprise a locking mechanism that prevents the magazine from beingremoved until the environmental conditions on the inside of the magazineare within a range of the environmental conditions outside of the datastorage library. The locking mechanism may be controlled by a librarycontroller, such as controller 400 shown and described with respect toFIG. 4.

In one embodiment utilizing at least a portion of I/O stations 2006,2007 as a media acclimation device 2012, the environmental conditionswithin the portion(s) of I/O stations 2006, 2007 may acclimatepassively. That is, when it is desirable to transport one or more datastorage cartridges from outside the data storage library—e.g., in thedata center—to the interior of the data storage library, the exteriordoor 2008 of one or both of I/O stations 2006, 2007 may be opened(either partially or fully), while the interior door(s) 2011 may remainclosed. Due to exterior door 2008 being opened, ambient air from theexterior environment of the data storage library naturally enters theexposed portions of I/O stations 2006, 2007. Accordingly, depending uponhow long the exterior door 2008 is opened as well as other factors, therespective storage slots of I/O stations 2006, 2007 acclimate toward andmay reach the environmental conditions of the space surrounding the datastorage library. When the conditions in the I/O stations 2006, 2007 areappropriate or met a threshold (e.g., approximate or are the same as theenvironmental conditions in the data center), the data storagecartridges are placed in the I/O stations 2006, 2007 for eventualplacement into the data storage library. Next, exterior door 2008 may beclosed (and the interior door 2011 may remain closed or may be partiallyopened), and the conditions within the respective storage slots of I/Ostations 2006, 2007 may gradually change to be closer to the interiorenvironmental conditions of the data storage library simply through theconductive and/or convective heat transfer to the I/O stations 2006,2007. This gradual change (or acclimation) allows the inserted datastorage cartridge to slowly ramp down or up in temperature, humidity,and/or or other environmental conditions, which may inhibit and/or avoidcondensation from forming and/or accumulating on the data storagecartridge(s) due to abrupt changes in temperature and humidity. When thedata storage cartridge(s) are properly acclimatized, the interior door2011 of the I/O stations 2006, 2007 may be opened, and the data storagecartridge(s) may be accessed by the accessor for functional use withinthe data storage library.

It is also to be understood that the present embodiment also providesfor media acclimatization in the reverse direction. That is, when one ormore data storage cartridges are to be removed from the data storagelibrary, the at least a portion of the I/O stations which serves asmedia acclimation device 2012 is conditioned to approximate theconditions of the interior of the library (e.g., at the environmentalconditions of the tape cartridges). This may require the interior door2011 of the I/O stations 2006, 2007 to remain open for a predeterminedperiod of time (or until a predetermined environmental condition issensed by one or more environmental sensors associated with and whichdetect the environmental conditions inside the media acclimation device)so as to allow the slots within I/O stations 2006, 2007 to acclimatizeto the environmental conditions within the interior of the data storagelibrary. After the predetermined period of time has passed (or anenvironmental condition has been reached or nearly reached), theaccessor may place the data storage cartridges inside the mediaacclimation device 2012 formed in at least a portion of the I/O stations2006, 2007, the interior door 2011 may close, and exterior door(s) 2008may remain closed (or may be partially opened) such that theenvironmental conditions within the slots of the I/O stations 2006, 2007slowly ramp toward the exterior environmental conditions. When the datastorage cartridge(s) are properly acclimatized, the exterior door(s)2008 of the I/O stations 2006, 2007 may be opened, and the data storagecartridge(s) may be removed by a user.

In one embodiment, the exterior doors 2008 may have vents 2009 incommunication with the interior of the media acclimation device and theexterior of the data storage library that may be movable, preferablybetween open and closed positions. The vents in the exterior door 2008may be operable to permit air from the exterior of the library to moreeasily infiltrate into the media acclimation device 2012 to adjust theconditions inside the media acclimation device 2012. While the vents2009 are described and depicted as being on the exterior door 2008, itwill be appreciated that the vents may be in other locations to be incommunication with the interior of the media acclimation device 2012 andthe environment exterior to the library. The vents 2009 may be manuallyoperable by an operator or technician, operable by a library controller,and/or operable by the accessor. In the process where a data storagecartridge from inside the library is being gradually acclimatized to theconditions outside the library, after the data storage cartridge hasbeen placed in the media acclimation device 2012 formed by at least aportion of the I/O station 2006, 2007, the interior door may be closed,and the vents 2009 may be opened so that the conditions in the mediaacclimation device slowly adjust to the exterior conditions of thelibrary which may inhibit or prevent the formation of condensation orother adverse conditions.

It will be appreciated that the vents 2009 may be controlled andoperated immediately upon closing interior door 2011 to the mediaacclimation device 2012, after a predetermined amount of time after theinterior door 2011 is closed, and/or in response to the conditionsinside the media acclimation device 2012 reaching equilibrium but notnecessarily meeting or within appropriate range of the environmentalconditions outside the library. It should further be appreciated thatthe environmental sensors associated with and for measuring conditionsin the media acclimation device 2012, inside the library, and exteriorto the library may be utilized to determine when and if the vents 2009should be utilized and to what degree.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, one of I/O stations2006, 2007 may be utilized for transferring data storage cartridges intothe data storage library (import), while the other may be utilized fortransporting data storage cartridges from the data storage library(export). In this way, one of I/O stations 2006, 2007 may be initiallyprepared for inserting data storage cartridges therein, without the needto ramp environmental conditions toward the external (or ambient)conditions outside of the data storage library. Likewise, the other ofI/O stations 2006, 2007 may be initially prepared for exporting one ormore data storage cartridges by the internal accessor, thereby avoidingthe need to ramp the environmental conditions within the other I/Ostation 2006, 2007 toward the internal conditions of the data storagelibrary. In one embodiment, in order to optimize the efficiency ofimport/export with the acclimation process, the I/O station that wasused for import becomes an export I/O station after it has beenacclimated to the inside environment of the library. Likewise, the I/Ostation that was used for export becomes an import I/O station after ithas been acclimated to the exterior environment of the library. Thisway, an additional acclimation step is avoided by not having to returnthe environmental state of the I/O station after an import or exportoperation is completed.

In an alternative embodiment utilizing at least a portion of I/Ostations 2006, 2007 as a media acclimation device 2012, theenvironmental conditions within the portion(s) of I/O stations 2006,2007 acting as the media acclimation device may be acclimated actively.That is, one or more fans (not shown) may be incorporated into the I/Ostations 2006, 2007 or adjacent portions of the library frame 2000 so asto move air either from the ambient environment outside of the libraryframe 2000 or the conditioned environment within the library frame 2000.The one or more fans may be controlled to move air into the portions ofthe I/O stations 2006, 2007 being utilized as a media acclimation device2012 to gradually condition (e.g., warm, cool, humidify, dehumidify,pressurize, depressurize, ionize, deionize, etc.) its interiorenvironment. The movement of air into these portions of the I/O stations2006, 2007 that forms the media acclimation device 2012 may be done as apreparation step (i.e., prior to insertion of the data storagecartridge(s)) or as an active part of acclimating the environmentalconditions of the data storage cartridge. The embodiment may include twoor more fans, with a first fan (or group of fans) operative to moveexterior ambient air into the I/O stations 2006, 2007, and a second fan(or group of fans) operative to move interior conditioned air into theI/O stations 2006, 2007. Alternatively, a single fan for each of I/Ostations 2006, 2007 could be used for both actions simply by changingthe fan's direction of rotation. Alternatively, instead of, or inaddition to, a fan or fans actively acclimating I/O stations 2006, 2007,one or more other environmental control devices, e.g., thermoelectricdevices, could be used to heat and cool the air inside the mediaacclimation device formed as at least a portion of the one or more ofI/O stations 2006, 2007. In fact, any known environmental device, suchas a thermoelectric heater, a thermoelectric cooler, an electric heater,a liquid heater, a liquid cooler, an air conditioner, a heat pump, anevaporative cooler, an ionizer, a de-ionizer, a humidifier, adehumidifier, one or more fans, etc. or any combination thereof, may beutilized. The embodiment utilizing the environmental control devicesand/or fans may also utilize the vents that communicate the interior ofthe media acclimation device 2012 with the exterior of the libraryand/or the conditioned interior of the library. Another example of anI/O station may comprise a magazine (not shown). A magazine is aremovable enclosure that contains one or more storage slots. Herein, I/Ostation refers to a structure, enclosure, and/or assembly containingstorage slots that allows data storage cartridges to be imported (e.g.,inserted) into the library, or exported (e.g., removed) from thelibrary, without disrupting host operation and/or without opening a maindoor to the library. A magazine may provide an environmental barrier forthe I/O station (e.g., if an exterior wall of the magazine is adjacentto the exterior of the library).

Next, referring to FIG. 12, an alternative embodiment of a mediaacclimation device 3000 is illustrated. Unlike the media acclimationdevice 2012 that may be associated with and/or integral to at least aportion of the I/O stations 2006, 2007 described above with respect toFIG. 11, media acclimation device 3000 has been modified to fit into anexisting data storage drive bay of a library frame, similar to the datastorage drives 15 shown in FIG. 2. As media acclimation device 3000 isconfigured to fit into an existing data storage drive bay, the outerconstruction of media acclimation device 3000 is substantially similarto that of a conventional data storage drive, such as data storage drive15. Furthermore, like a conventional data storage drive, mediaacclimation device 3000 may receive some or all of its power (ifnecessary) from a hot-swap drive power connector, which provides powerto the media acclimation device 3000 via a connection between the datastorage drive bay and the media acclimation device.

Media acclimation device 3000 in one aspect is configured to conditionthe air around one or more data storage cartridges located within themedia acclimation device 3000 through the use of a conduit 3004, whichprovides a connection between the ambient air outside of the datastorage library and the interior of media acclimation device 3000. Theconduit 3004 may extend toward an opening, baffle, vent, etc. located atthe rear of the data storage library, which allows for the selectiveentry of ambient air from outside the library into the media acclimationdevice 3000. Additionally or alternatively, the system may use one ormore of the environmental devices associated with and/or integrated intothe media acclimation device 3000. For example, media acclimation device3000 may comprise one or more thermoelectric devices that could be usedto heat and cool the air inside media acclimation device 3000.Alternatively, any known environmental device, such as an electricheater, a liquid heater, a liquid cooler, an air conditioner, a heatpump, an evaporative cooler, an ionizer, a deionizer, a humidifier, adehumidifier, one or more fans, etc., or any combination thereof, may beutilized. Media acclimation device 3000 may have an interiorconfiguration and provide for loading of data storage cartridges similarto deep storage slot cell 100 shown and described with respect to FIGS.7A-7B. Furthermore, media acclimation device 3000 may comprise one ormore environmental sensors 3006 associated with, and/or disposed in aninterior portion of media acclimation device 3000. The one or moreenvironmental sensors 3006 (e.g., temperature sensor(s), humiditysensor(s), etc.) may be configured to sense the internal environmentalconditions of the media acclimation device 3000. The environmentalsensor(s) 3006 may be in communication with a library controller, suchas controller 400 shown and described with respect to FIG. 4. Thecommunication of any one or all of the environmental sensors may beutilized to control (e.g., adjust) the output and operation of theenvironmental control device.

In one embodiment, media acclimation device 3000 may contain andacclimate multiple data storage cartridges at the same time. This may beaccomplished through deep storage slot technology, similar to that shownand described with respect to FIGS. 7A-7B above, or through a motorizedcartridge movement and stacking system, or through some other method.Deep storage slot technology may comprise a spring or other biasingdevice within the media acclimation device 3000 which provides a biasingforce in the opposite direction of data storage cartridge insertion.Multiple data storage cartridges may be inserted and removed without theaid of motors, gravity, etc., due to the biasing force of the spring.Motorized cartridge movement technology may comprise a motorized beltsystem or similar motorized conveyance, wherein a data storage cartridgemay be inserted into one end of the media acclimation device andtransported in the direction of the other end of the media acclimationdevice for eventual removal. Additionally and/or alternatively, amotorized stacking system may be employed, wherein one or more motorizeddevices may be capable of receiving the data storage cartridges andcreating a plurality of stacked rows and/or columns of data storagecartridges within the media acclimation device 3000. Furthermore, themedia acclimation device 3000 may be sized to include multiple deepstorage slots, multiple belts/conveyors, etc. For instance, instead ofonly a single row of data storage cartridges stored within the mediaacclimation device 3000, multiple (e.g., 2, 3, 4, etc.) stored rows maybe possible.

In one embodiment, data storage cartridges are inserted by an operatorat the conduit 3004 of media acclimation device 3000, and they may beremoved by a library robot accessor at the front opening portion 3003 ofmedia acclimation device 3000. In another embodiment, data storagecartridges may be inserted by the library robot accessor at the frontopening portion 3003 of media acclimation device 3000 and may be removedby an operator at the conduit 3004 of media acclimation device 3000. Theconduit 3004 may be configured to be accessible by the operator via anexternal access port on the data storage library such that a primaryaccess door to the data storage library does not need to be opened forinsertion or removal of data storage cartridges. In another embodiment,data storage cartridges may be inserted by the library robot accessor atthe front opening portion 3003 of media acclimation device 3000 and mayalso be removed by the library robot accessor at the front openingportion 3003 of media acclimation device 3000. In still anotherembodiment, data media cartridges may be inserted by an operator at theconduit 3004 of media acclimation device 3000 and may be removed by anoperator at the conduit 3004 of media acclimation device 3000.

Each of front opening portion 3003 and the conduit 3004 may comprise anenvironmental barrier to inhibit and/or prevent the entrance and/orescape of air. For example, a door 3008 may be present adjacent to frontopening portion 3003, while a door 3009 may be present adjacent anopening of conduit 3004. The environmental barrier (e.g., doors 3008,3009) may comprise a door, hatch, cover, air curtain, hanging slots orflaps, split membrane, separable membrane, a slot that opens when acartridge is inserted or removed, or any other method of providing anenvironmental barrier or seal at an opening to resist, impede, and/orblock the intrusion of air into the interior of the media acclimationdevice 3000. Both doors 3008, 3009 may be movable so as to provideaccess via an accessor and/or via an operator (e.g., a cartridge movinginto or out of the door may cause the environmental seal to be brokenwhile the cartridge is moving into or out of the media acclimationdevice 3003). The doors 3008, 3009 may be automatically movable (e.g.,via movements of the accessor or through an electro-mechanical device)and/or manually movable by an operator (e.g., if the door is hinged,sliding or otherwise independently operated from a cartridge movingthrough the door). In an embodiment where data storage cartridge(s) areinserted into the media acclimation device 3000 via the conduit 3004,the door or barrier blocking the rear opening portion may be opened toallow for insertion of the one or more data storage cartridges. The dooror barrier may then be closed such that the interior cavity of mediaacclimation device 3000 may be insulated, separated and/or isolated fromboth the exterior and interior environments of the data storage library.The environmental control device (or devices) associated with and/orincorporated into the media acclimation device 3000 may then operate togradually ramp the environmental conditions within the media acclimationdevice 3000 from the exterior environmental conditions to the interiorenvironmental conditions. In this way, the data storage cartridge(s)within the media acclimation device 3000 gradually acclimatize to theconditions within the data storage library, which may inhibit and/oravoid the formation or accumulation of condensation (or any otherundesirable effect that may be caused by changing environments) on anycomponent of the data storage cartridge(s).

As noted above, data storage cartridges may be inserted by the libraryaccessor at the front opening portion 3003 of media acclimation device3000 and may also be removed by the library accessor at the frontopening portion 3003 of media acclimation device 3000. In such aninstance, the operator would provide the data storage cartridge(s) at anaccessible location (such as an I/O station), and a library accessorwould retrieve the cartridge(s) for acclimation and insert them withinthe media acclimation device 3000. The library accessor would preferablyoperate at relatively high speeds so as to timely retrieve the datastorage cartridge(s) and insert them within the controlled environmentof the media acclimation device 3000 so as to inhibit and/or avoid anyformation or accumulation of condensation on the data storagecartridge(s) during transport. Alternatively, the accessor may beinsulated or may contain an environmental control device (as will bediscussed) to help prevent undesirable environmental conditions fromaffecting the data storage cartridge during transport.

Next, referring to FIG. 13, another embodiment of a media acclimationdevice 4000 is illustrated. Media acclimation device 4000, like mediaacclimation device 3000 described above with respect to FIG. 12, may beconstructed so as to fit into an existing data storage drive bay of adata storage library in a fashion similar to that of a conventional datastorage drive, such as data storage drive 15 shown in FIG. 2. Also, likea conventional data storage drive, media acclimation device 4000 mayreceive some or all of its power (if required) from a hot-swap driveconnector.

Media acclimation device 4000 may be configured to condition the airaround one or more data storage cartridges disposed therein through theuse of one or more of environmental control devices, such as athermoelectric heater, a thermoelectric cooler, an electric heater, aliquid heater, a liquid cooler, an air conditioner, a heat pump, anevaporative cooler, an ionizer, a deionizer, a humidifier, adehumidifier, one or more fans, or any combination thereof. Additionallyand/or alternatively, media acclimation device 4000 may receiveconditioned air from an associated external environmental controlcomponent 4001 (e.g., an environmental conditioner such as, for example,an air conditioner or evaporative cooler) through a supply duct 4005. Areturn duct 4006 may provide a return path for the environmentallyconditioned air. However, it is to be understood that return duct 4006may be omitted from the present embodiment. Furthermore, mediaacclimation device 4000 may be associated with and/or comprise one ormore environmental sensors 4008 disposed within and/or associated withan interior portion thereof. The one or more environmental sensors 4008(e.g., temperature sensor(s), humidity sensor(s), etc.) may beconfigured to sense the internal environmental conditions of the mediaacclimation device 4000. Additionally, or alternatively, optionalenvironmental sensors may be utilized to sense and/or measure theenvironmental conditions within the interior and/or exterior of datastorage library. The environmental sensor(s) 4008 may be incommunication with external environmental control component 4001 and/ora library controller, such as controller 400 shown and described withrespect to FIG. 4. The communication of the one or more environmentalsensors may be utilized to control (e.g., adjust) the output andoperation of the environmental control device (e.g., environmentalcontrol component 4001, controllable dampers, controllable baffles,etc.).

One or more of supply duct 4005 and return duct 4006 may comprise adamper or baffle to enable the duct to be opened and/or closed. Thedamper(s) or baffle(s) may be controlled so as to gradually moveconditioned air to/from media acclimation device 4000. One respectiveend of each of supply duct 4005 and return duct 4006 may be connected tothe media acclimation device 4000 so as to communicate with an interiorportion of media acclimation device 4000, while the other end of supplyduct 4005 and return duct 4006 may be coupled to an externalenvironmental control component 4001, such as environmental conditioningunit 1012 shown and described with respect to FIG. 10, which may be, forexample, an air conditioning unit. In this way, conditioned air may beprovided through duct 4005 to acclimate one or more data storagecartridges placed therein.

In one aspect of the embodiment, media acclimation device 4000 maycontain multiple data storage cartridges at the same time. This may beaccomplished through deep storage slot technology or through a motorizedcartridge movement and stacking system or through some other method, asdescribed above with respect to FIG. 12.

In one aspect of the embodiment, cartridges are inserted by an operatorat a rear opening portion 4004 of media acclimation device 4000, andthey may be removed by a library robot accessor at the front openingportion 4003 of media acclimation device 4000. In another embodiment,data storage cartridges may be inserted by the library robot accessor atthe front opening portion 4003 of media acclimation device 4000 and maybe removed by an operator at the rear opening portion 4004 of mediaacclimation device 4000. The rear opening portion 4004 may be configuredto be accessible by the operator via an external access port, paneland/or door on the data storage library such that a primary access doorto the data storage library (which is typically much larger than theaccess port) does not need to be opened for insertion or removal of datastorage cartridges. In at least one embodiment supply duct 4005 and/orreturn duct 4006 preferably does not interfere with access to the rearopening portion 4004.

In another embodiment, data storage cartridges may be inserted by thelibrary robot accessor at the front opening portion 4003 of mediaacclimation device 4000 and may also be removed by the library robotaccessor at the front opening portion 4003 of media acclimation device4000. In still another embodiment, data storage cartridges may beinserted by an operator at the rear opening portion 4004 of mediaacclimation device 4000 and may be removed by an operator at the rearopening portion 4004 of media acclimation device 4000.

Front opening portion 4003 and rear opening portion 4004 may comprise anenvironmental barrier to prevent the entrance and/or escape of air. Forexample, front opening portion 4003 may comprise a door 4010, which iscapable of moving so as to enable access to the interior of mediaacclimation device 4000. While not shown, rear opening portion 4004 maycomprise a similar environmental barrier. If present, the environmentalbarrier of rear opening portion 4004 and/or front opening portion 4003may comprise a door, hatch, cover, air curtain, hanging slots or flaps,split membrane, separable membrane, a slot that opens when a cartridgeis inserted or removed, or any other method of providing anenvironmental barrier or seal at an opening to resist, impede, and/orblock air from intruding into the interior of the media acclimationdevice 4000. In an embodiment where data storage cartridge(s) areinserted into the media acclimation device 4000 via the rear openingportion 4004, the door or barrier blocking the rear opening portion maybe opened to allow for insertion of the one or more data storagecartridges. The door or barrier may then be closed such that theinterior cavity of media acclimation device 4000 may be insulated,separated, and/or isolated from both the exterior and interiorenvironments of the data storage library. Conditioned air from anassociated external environmental control component 4001 (e.g., anenvironmental conditioning unit, such as, for example, an airconditioner or evaporative cooler) may then be provided through a supplyduct 4005 into the media acclimation device 4000 to gradually ramp theenvironmental conditions within the media acclimation device 4000 fromthe exterior environmental conditions to the interior environmentalconditions. In this way, the data storage cartridge(s) within the mediaacclimation device 4000 gradually acclimatize to the conditions withinthe data storage library, which may inhibit and/or avoid the formationor accumulation of condensation (or any other undesirable effect thatmay be caused by changing environments) on any component of the datastorage cartridge(s).

Next, referring to FIG. 14, another alternative embodiment of a mediaacclimation device 5000 is illustrated. Media acclimation device 5000,like media acclimation devices 3000, 4000 described above with respectto FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, respectively, may be constructed so as to fitinto an existing data storage drive bay of a data storage library in afashion similar to that of a conventional data storage drive, such asdata storage drive 15 shown in FIG. 2. Also, like a conventional datastorage drive, media acclimation device 5000 may receive some or all ofits power (if required) from a hot-swap drive connector.

Media acclimation device 5000 is configured to condition the air aroundone or more data storage cartridges disposed therein through the use ofone or more of the environmental control devices, such as theenvironmental control devices described above with respect to mediaacclimation devices 3000, 4000. Additionally, and/or alternatively,media acclimation device 5000 may receive heated or cooled liquid froman associated external environmental control component 5001 (e.g.,refrigerant from an air conditioner compressor, cold water from anevaporative cooler, hot water from a water heater, etc.) via a supplyline 5005, while heated or cooled liquid may return to the externalcomponent via a return line 5006. A condensate drain line 5007 may alsobe incorporated so as to drain any condensation from the system. In thisway, the environmental conditions within the interior of mediaacclimation device 5000 may be gradually changed so as to acclimate oneor more data storage cartridges stored therein. Furthermore, mediaacclimation device 5000 may comprise one or more environmental sensors5008 associated with the media acclimation device 5000 and/or disposedin at an interior portion thereof. The one or more environmental sensors5008 (e.g., temperature sensor(s), humidity sensor(s), etc.) may beconfigured to sense the internal environmental conditions of the mediaacclimation device 5000. Additionally, or alternatively, optionalenvironmental sensors may be utilized to sense and/or measure theenvironmental conditions within the interior and/or exterior of the datastorage library. The environmental sensor(s) 5008 may be incommunication with external environmental control component 5001 and/ora library controller, such as controller 400 shown and described withrespect to FIG. 4. The communication of the one or more environmentalsensors may be utilized to control (e.g., adjust) the output andoperation of the environmental control device (e.g., externalenvironmental control component 5001).

In one aspect of the embodiment, media acclimation device 5000 maycontain multiple data storage cartridges at the same time. This may beaccomplished through deep storage slot technology or through a motorizedcartridge movement and stacking system or through some other method, asdescribed above with respect to FIG. 12.

Cartridges may be inserted and removed from of media acclimation device5000 through openings in the manner(s) described with respect to mediaacclimation devices 3000 or 4000 described in FIGS. 12 and 13. Inaddition, front opening portion 5003 and rear opening portion 5004 mayeach comprise an environmental barrier to inhibit and/or prevent theentrance and/or escape of air from the media acclimation device 5000similar to the media acclimation devices 3000 and 4000 described inconnection with FIGS. 12 and 13. For example, front opening portion 5003may comprise a door 5010, which is capable of moving so as to enableaccess to the interior of media acclimation device 5000. While notshown, rear opening portion 5004 may comprise a similar door. In anembodiment where data storage cartridge(s) are inserted into the mediaacclimation device 5000 via the rear opening portion 5004, the door orbarrier blocking the rear opening portion may be opened to allow forinsertion of the one or more data storage cartridges. The door orbarrier may then be closed such that the interior cavity of mediaacclimation device 5000 may be isolated from both the exterior andinterior environments of the data storage library. Heated or cooledliquid may then be provided through a supply line 5005 into the mediaacclimation device 5000 to gradually ramp the environmental conditionswithin the media acclimation device 5000 from the environmentalconditions exterior to the data storage library to the environmentalconditions within the data storage library. In this way, the datastorage cartridge(s) within the media acclimation device 5000 maygradually acclimatize to the conditions within the data storage library,which may inhibit and/or avoid the formation and/or accumulation ofcondensation (or any other undesirable effect that may be caused bychanging environments) on any component of the data storagecartridge(s).

Referring now to FIG. 15, another embodiment in accordance with thepresent disclosure is illustrated. A library frame 6000 comprises anaccess front panel 6017 having a rear-facing portion of an operatorpanel 6002, an accessor 6004, and a gripper cage 6005, which may beassociated with and/or connected to a part of accessor 6004. The frontpanel 6017 may also include I/O station 6016, 6018. The gripper cage6005 includes an upper gripper 6006 and a lower gripper 6007. Asdescribed above with respect to FIG. 2, the gripper cage 6005 acts tophysically retain one or more data storage cartridges for delivery tovarious locations within the library frame 6000. The library frame 6000further comprises a cross-rail 6008, upon which the accessor 6004 maytravel, as well as an accessor controller 6009.

In an aspect of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the accessor 6004 maycomprise a media acclimation device. For example, the gripper cage 6005may be sized so as to form at least a partially enclosed region aroundthe upper gripper 6006 and lower gripper 6007. The environmentalconditions within the partially enclosed region of gripper 6005 may bealtered via, one or more environmental control devices, e.g., athermoelectric heater, a thermoelectric cooler, an electric heater, aliquid heater, a liquid cooler, an air conditioner, a heat pump, anevaporative cooler, an ionizer, a deionizer, a humidifier, adehumidifier, one or more fans, or any combination thereof, to provideenvironmental conditions different than those within the library frame6000. A moveable door, split membrane or other environmental barrier(e.g., hanging slots, an air curtain, etc.) may be located at an accessopening of the gripper cage 6005 so as to enable the upper gripper 6006and lower gripper 6007 to pass therethrough when retrieving and/ordelivering a data storage cartridge, while still inhibiting and/orpreventing the environmental conditions within the gripper cage frombeing influenced by the environmental conditions within the libraryframe 6000. In this way, the data storage cartridge(s) retrieved byaccessor 6004 may be acclimated, or their environment maintained duringtransport, within the accessor 6004 itself. Alternatively, upper gripper6006 and/or lower gripper 6007 may comprise the acclimation device. Inthis case, the environmental barrier may be at the front of the gripperwhere cartridges would be drawn into the gripper.

FIGS. 11-15 illustrate a variety of alternative media acclimationdevices which may individually operate so as to gradually acclimate datastorage cartridges being inserted into (or removed from) a data storagelibrary. However, it is to be understood that the various mediaacclimation devices described above may be combined so as to provide asystem-wide acclimation solution. For example, an I/O station mediaacclimation device (such as that shown and described with respect toFIG. 11) may be used to receive a data storage cartridge and begin theacclimation process either by slowly changing the environment of thedata storage cartridge or by maintaining the environment of the datastorage cartridge. A robotic accessor having an integrated mediaacclimation device (such as that shown and described with respect toFIG. 15) may then retrieve the data storage cartridge from the I/Ostation and continue the acclimation process either by slowly changingthe environment of the data storage cartridge or by maintaining theenvironment of the data storage cartridge during transport. Finally, astorage slot media acclimation device (described earlier) and/or datastorage drive bay media acclimation device (such as those shown anddescribed with respect to FIGS. 12-14) may receive the data storagecartridge(s) from the accessor so as to complete the acclimationprocess. In this way, the acclimation process may start when the datastorage cartridge enters the I/O station and the acclimation process maybe completed as the data storage cartridge migrates to the final mediaacclimation device.

Furthermore, in any of the embodiments shown and described earlier andalso with respect to FIGS. 11-15, one or more environmental sensors(e.g., temperature sensor(s), humidity sensor(s), etc.) may beassociated with, and/or disposed within, upon, or adjacent to the mediaacclimation device(s); associated with, and/or disposed within, upon, oradjacent to the data storage library; and/or associated with and/ordisposed within, upon, or adjacent to any external component, orexterior to the data storage library. These environmental sensors may beused for monitoring and/or control of an acclimation process. Themonitoring and/or control of the media acclimation process may beperformed by the media acclimation device(s), an external environmentalcontrol component associated with the media acclimation device(s), anenvironmental control device, a data storage library controller, oranother control system. Accordingly, the data storage cartridge(s) orother components within the media acclimation device(s) may be properlyacclimatized prior to insertion or removal from the interior confines ofthe data storage library.

The processes described herein may be performed utilizing one or moreembodiments of the media acclimation devices described herein or by anyother media acclimation devices, including media acclimation devicesthat are not disclosed herein. In one embodiment of the method ofacclimating one or more components for insertion into or removal from adata storage library, the components are inserted into an acclimationdevice, such as, for example, the media acclimation device shown anddescribed above in FIGS. 1-15, or other undisclosed acclimation device,at first environmental conditions. Both the acclimation device and thecomponents inserted into the acclimation are preferably at the samefirst environmental conditions, for example, the same temperature and/orhumidity level. However, there may be a temperature and/or humiditydifferential between the interior of the acclimation device andcomponents inserted into the acclimation device. The interior of theacclimation device and the components inserted therein are acclimated tosecond environmental condition(s). For example, the temperature and/orhumidity levels at first environmental conditions may be different thanthe temperature and/or humidity levels at the second environmentalconditions. And, the components are removed from the acclimation device.In one embodiment, the components may be inserted into the device andheld in the acclimation device for a sufficient period of time toacclimate to the second environmental conditions. The time period may bea predetermined time period, for example, twenty-four (24) hours. Thepredetermined time period preferably is sufficient to permit thecomponents to sufficiently acclimate. The amount of time provided toacclimate may be more or less then twenty-four (24) hours.

The time period could also vary and be set depending upon theenvironmental conditions between the various environments (e.g., insideand outside the library). For example, the amount of time that isprovided to acclimate the components in the acclimation device maydepend upon the interior conditions inside the library, the exteriorconditions outside the library and/or both. A look-up table could beused or calculations performed to determine the amount of time thecomponent(s) stay inside the acclimation device before they are removed.Sensors may be employed to measure the conditions inside and outside thelibrary. In another aspect, the process may involve including data onthe interior conditions inside the acclimation device. Again sensors maybe employed to measure conditions within the interior of the acclimationdevice.

In embodiments, the acclimation device may be acclimated so thatinterior is at the desired environmental conditions, e.g., at or closeto the exterior library conditions, or at or close to the interiorlibrary conditions. To acclimate the acclimation device to desiredconditions before the components are inserted within the acclimationdevice, the acclimation device may be arranged in a desiredconfiguration that favors acclimation for a predetermined period oftime. For example, the acclimation device may set for about twenty-four(24) hours before the components are inserted into the acclimationdevice. In alternative embodiments, sensors may be employed to set theamount of time that the acclimation device is acclimated.

In other embodiments, measurements of environmental conditions are madeand/or calculated, including comparisons of measurements, to determinewhether or not environmental conditions are at, near or within a desiredrange and/or threshold of a desired environmental condition. In oneaspect, one or more sensors may be used to make the measurements, and aprocessor and/or controller including library processors and/orcontrollers may be utilized.

Referring to FIG. 16, a media acclimation process 7000, for example, toacclimate one or more data storage cartridges from ambient conditionsoutside a data storage library to environmental conditions within theinterior of a data storage library, is disclosed in accordance with oneaspect of the present disclosure. While media acclimation process 7000may be considered for the sake of convenience and not with the intent oflimiting the disclosure as comprising a series and/or number of steps,it is to be understood that the process does not need to be performed asa series of steps and/or the steps do not need to be performed in theorder shown and described with respect to FIG. 16. At 7002, one or moredata storage cartridges are provided, while at least one mediaacclimation device is provided at 7004. The at least one mediaacclimation device may be any media acclimation device, including, butnot limited to, those described above with respect to FIGS. 11-15. Themedia acclimation device may be configured and arranged to provideenvironmental conditions that may be different, distinct, separated,insulated and/or isolated from the environmental conditions of theinterior of the data storage library and/or exterior of the data storagelibrary, e.g. the room or facility in which the data storage library islocated.

Next, at 7006, one or more desired environmental condition(s) (e.g., thetemperature and/or humidity levels) both within the media acclimationdevice and outside the data storage library are detected and/ordetermined. The desired one or more environmental conditions may be anyenvironmental condition (e.g., temperature, humidity, containmentslevel, and/or ionization level, etc.) which may be beneficial oradvantageous to gradually adjust to inhibit, impede, or resist adverseeffects as the data storage cartridge and/or its associated media aretransferred and/or transported from one environment to a differentenvironment (e.g., outside the data storage library to inside the datastorage library). The desired environmental conditions (e.g.,temperature and/or humidity) may be detected and determined in a numberof ways, including, for example, using one or more sensors associatedwith the media acclimation device, which are configured to measure thedesired environmental condition(s) in the interior of the mediaacclimation device, and one or more sensors configured to measure thecorresponding desired environmental condition(s) outside of the datastorage library.

At 7008, it is determined whether the desired environmental condition(s)(e.g., temperature and/or humidity) within the media acclimation deviceis at, near and/or within a range or threshold of the desiredcorresponding ambient environmental condition(s) outside of the datastorage library. This determining step may be performed by comparing thedata measured and/or detected for the corresponding environmentalcondition(s) (e.g., the temperature and/or humidity) within the mediaacclimation device to the environmental condition(s) outside the datastorage library. While 7006 and 7008 are shown and described separatelyit will be appreciated that those processes may be combined or performedsimultaneously, for example, in the controller or computer processingunit of the data storage library.

If the desired environmental condition(s) within the media acclimationdevice are not at, near, approximate of, and/or within a range or adetermined threshold of the environmental condition(s) outside the datastorage library, the desired environmental condition(s) (e.g.,temperature and/or humidity) within the media acclimation may beincreased or decreased at 7010. The desired environmental condition(s)being detected, measured and/or compared may be increased or decreasedeither through passive exchange with the ambient external environmentalconditions or the interior library environmental conditions, or throughan active change via one or more environmental control devicesassociated with the media acclimation device and/or the environmentalconditioning unit used for the data storage library. In one embodiment,a predetermined time may pass in order to permit the conditions insidethe media acclimation device to approximate the conditions outside thedata storage library, and then measurements, comparisons and/ordeterminations are undertaken again. Alternatively, ducts, baffles,ports, openings, and/or vents (herein referred to as vents) to the mediaacclimation device in communication with the exterior of the library maybe opened (e.g., a door, baffle and/or barrier blocking the duct, port,vent or opening may be moved or an air curtain may be deactivated) toequalize conditions between the interior of the media acclimation deviceand the exterior of the data storage library, and/or in alternativeembodiments, ducts and/or vents in communication with the interior ofthe data storage device may be unblocked or opened. Additionally oralternatively, environmental control devices may be activated toequalize the desired environmental conditions inside the mediaacclimation device and the exterior of the data storage library. Theprocesses at 7006, 7008 and 7010 are repeated until it is determinedthat the desired environmental condition(s) (e.g., temperature and/orhumidity) inside the media acclimation device are at or near theenvironmental condition(s) (e.g. temperature and/or humidity) outsidethe data storage library, and in response thereto a data media cartridge(or cartridges) may be inserted into the media acclimation device at7012. If the media acclimation device comprises one or more doors, theone or more doors of the media acclimation device may be closed at 7014in order to insulate, separate, and/or isolate the interior of the mediaacclimation device. It is to be noted that in some embodiments, mediaacclimation device may not utilize doors or other physical barriers, andthus 7014 may be omitted.

At 7015, the environmental condition(s) (e.g., temperature and/orhumidity) of the interior of the data storage library and within themedia acclimation device are then detected by, for example, sensors(e.g., temperature and/or humidity sensors). Next, at 7016, the desiredenvironmental condition(s) (e.g., temperature and/or humidity levels)within the media acclimation device are compared to the correspondingdesired environmental condition(s) (e.g., temperature and/or humiditylevels) inside the library, and a determination is made whether or notthe environmental condition(s) (e.g., temperature and/or humidity)within the media acclimation device meet a desired threshold difference,preferably a predetermined threshold difference, with the environmentalcondition(s) (e.g., temperature and/or humidity) within the library. Ifthe desired environmental condition(s) inside the library do not meetthe threshold difference, are different than, and/or are not within adesired range of, the corresponding environmental condition(s) insidethe media acclimation device, the desired environmental condition(s)(e.g., temperature and/or humidity levels) within the media acclimationdevice are gradually increased or decreased at 7018. The desiredenvironmental condition(s) (e.g. temperature and/or humidity levels) maybe increased and/or decreased via any environmental control devices,including those described above with respect to FIGS. 11-15, or simplythrough passive exposure to the ambient air inside of and/or outside ofthe data storage library.

Processes 7015, 7016, and 7018 are repeated until the desiredenvironmental condition(s) (e.g., the temperature and/or humiditylevels) within the media acclimation device meet the desired thresholddifference, preferably the predetermined threshold difference, at whichpoint the media acclimation process is complete. If the mediaacclimation device comprises one or more doors or other physicalbarriers, the door(s) or barriers may be opened at 7019, and the datastorage cartridge may be removed from the media acclimation device at7020. It is to be noted that in some embodiments, media acclimationdevice may not utilize doors or other physical barriers, and thus 7019may be omitted. It should be understood that the threshold differencecan be reached when the corresponding environmental condition(s) (e.g.,temperature and/or humidity) being measured and/or compared are close,approximate of, at and or within a range as may be appropriate dependingupon the environmental conditions that exist inside and outside of thedata storage library. During the acclimation process 7000, or otheracclimation processes described herein, air curtains, movable doorsand/or other environmental barriers associated with openings incommunication with the interior of the data storage library and/ormoveable doors and/or barriers associated with openings in communicationwith the outside of the data storage library may be activated,deactivated, opened and/or closed as appropriate to permit or inhibitexposure of the media acclimation device to the environmental conditionsof the interior or exterior of the data storage unit, or as appropriateto permit access between the media acclimation device and the interiorand exterior of the data storage library to import or export datastorage cartridges.

Referring now to FIG. 17, media acclimation process 8000, for example,to acclimate one or more data storage cartridges from ambient conditionsoutside a data storage library to environmental conditions within theinterior of a data storage library, is disclosed in accordance withanother aspect of the present disclosure. While media acclimationprocess 8000 may be considered for the sake of convenience and not withan intent of limiting the disclosure as comprising a series and/or anumber of steps, it is to be understood that the process does not needto be performed as a series of steps and/or the steps do not need to beperformed in the order shown and described with respect to FIG. 17. At8002, one or more data storage cartridges are provided, while at leastone media acclimation device is provided at 8004. A first door of themedia acclimation device may be in an opened or partially openedposition so as not to inhibit or block an opening that is inenvironmental communication with the exterior of the data storagelibrary, while a second door of the media acclimation device may be in aclosed position to restrict, inhibit and/or block an opening incommunication with the interior of the data storage library. In oneembodiment, the at least one media acclimation device is preferably apassive media acclimation device, such as, for example, the passivemedia acclimation device embodiment which is shown and described abovewith respect to FIGS. 11-12. Thus, the media acclimation device providedin 8004 is preferably acclimated via exposure to and reliance onconductive and convective heat transfer and/or passive connection(s) tothe ambient environmental conditions outside the data storage libraryand/or environmental conditions within the data storage library.

At 8006, desired environmental condition(s) (e.g., temperature and/orhumidity) are detected inside the media acclimation device and outsidethe data storage library. The desired environmental conditions may bedetected through a number of means, including, for example, the use ofsensors for measuring the desired environmental condition(s) (e.g.,temperature and/or humidity) inside the media acclimation device andoutside the data storage library. At 8008, it is determined whether ornot the desired environmental condition(s) inside the media acclimationdevice is at, near, and/or within a range or threshold of thecorresponding ambient environmental condition(s) outside the library.Such a determination may be made by taking measurements or readings via,e.g., one or more environmental sensors such as temperature sensor(s)and/or humidity sensor(s) within the media acclimation device, andenvironmental sensors exterior to the data storage library and comparingthe corresponding measured environmental condition data.

If at 8008 the desired environmental condition(s) within the mediaacclimation device are not at, near, and/or within a range or thresholdof the corresponding ambient environmental condition(s), then ambientconditions from the external environment outside of the data storagelibrary are introduced into the media acclimation device at 8009. In analternative embodiment, a period of time is permitted to pass beforemeasurements and comparisons are retaken again at 8006 and 8008.Additionally, and/or alternatively, one or more ports, baffles, vents,ducts, doors and/or openings communicating between the media acclimationdevice and the exterior of the data storage library may be unblocked oropened further (e.g., a barrier, baffle or door may be moved more to anopen position, an air curtain may be partially or fully deactivated,etc.) to permit the media acclimation device to adjust to the exteriorconditions outside the data storage library. However, if yes, thedesired environmental conditions within the media acclimation are at,near, and/or within a desired range of the environmental conditionsoutside or exterior to the data storage library, the data storagecartridge(s) may be inserted into the media acclimation device at 8010.

Next, at 8012, the first door of the media acclimation device may beclosed after insertion of the data storage cartridge(s). Closure of thefirst door preferably isolates, insulates, and/or separates the interiorof the media acclimation device from the ambient conditions outside thedata storage library, and may permit the environmental conditions withinthe media acclimation device to gradually ramp towards the environmentalconditions within the interior of the data storage library. Additionallyand/or alternatively, ambient air and/or conditioned air from within thedata storage library may be introduced into the media acclimation devicevia openings, baffles, ducts, vents, etc., between the media acclimationdevice and the interior of the data storage library so as to speed orslow the media acclimation process. The ducts, opening, vents, etc. mayhave moveable doors, air curtains or barriers to permit selective use ofthe ducts, openings and/or vents. At 8014, the environmentalcondition(s) within the media acclimation device are again detected, asare the environmental condition(s) within the storage library, and it isdetermined, at 8015, whether or not the environmental condition(s)within the media acclimation device are at, near, and/or within a rangeor threshold difference between the environmental condition(s) insidethe media acclimation device and the environmental condition(s) insidethe data storage library.

If no, then a predetermined amount of time is allowed to pass so as toallow the environmental condition(s) within the media acclimation deviceto change at 8016. Processes 8014, 8015 and 8016 are repeated until theenvironmental condition(s) within the media acclimation device are at,near, and/or within a range or threshold of the corresponding desiredenvironmental condition(s) inside the data storage library. If yes, theenvironmental condition(s) inside the media acclimation device andinside the library are within the desired threshold (e.g., at, nearand/or within a desired range), then a second door in the mediaacclimation device may be opened so as to provide internal access to thedata storage cartridge(s) within the data storage library at 8018. Theproperly-acclimated data storage cartridge(s) may then be removed fromthe media acclimation device and transported to the appropriate locationwithin the data storage library at 8020.

FIG. 18 discloses a media acclimation process 8050 similar to process8000 described above with respect to FIG. 17, but designed for theremoval of data storage cartridge(s) from a data storage library. Again,while media acclimation process 8050 may be considered for the sake ofconvenience and without an intent of limiting the disclosure as a seriesand/or a number of steps, it is to be understood that the process doesnot need to be performed as a series of steps and/or the steps do notneed to be performed in the order shown and described with respect toFIG. 18. At 8052, a first door of the media acclimation device may be ina closed position to restrict and/or block an opening in communicationwith the exterior of the data storage library, while a second door ofthe media acclimation device may be in an opened or partially openedposition so as not to block and/or restrict an opening that is incommunication with the interior of the data storage library. Thus, themedia acclimation device provided in 8052 is preferably acclimated byexposure to and/or via passive connection(s) to the environmentalconditions within the interior of the data storage library. At 8054, oneor more environmental condition(s) within the media acclimation deviceand within the data storage library are detected and/or measured. Suchmeasurement(s) may be made via, e.g., one or more environmental sensorssuch as, for example, temperature sensor(s) and/or humidity sensor(s)within the media acclimation device, and corresponding environmentalsensors within the data storage library. At 8056, it is determinedwhether or not the media acclimation device is at or near theenvironmental conditions within the library. Such a determination may bemade by comparing corresponding readings from the one or moreenvironmental sensors such as, for example, temperature sensor(s) and/orhumidity sensor(s) within the media acclimation device, andcorresponding environmental sensors within the data storage library.

If at 8056 it is determined that the desired environmental condition(s)within the media acclimation device are not at, near and/or within thedesired range or threshold of the corresponding environmentalcondition(s) inside the library, then in one embodiment environmentalconditions from within the data storage library are introduced into themedia acclimation device at 8058. For example, one or more ports, doors,baffles, vents or openings communicating between the media acclimationdevice and the interior of the data storage library may be partially orfully unblocked or partially or fully opened (e.g., a barrier or doormay be moved to an open or partially open position, an air curtain maybe fully or partially deactivated, etc.) to permit the media acclimationdevice to adjust to the interior conditions outside the data storagelibrary. Alternatively, and/or additionally, a period of time can elapseto permit the media acclimation device greater exposure to theenvironmental conditions within the data storage library, and/or activeenvironmental control devices (e.g., one or more fans, thermoelectricdevices, etc.), and/or environmental conditioning units may be utilizedto alter the desired environmental conditions within the mediaacclimation device. Processes 8054, 8056 and 8058 are repeated until,yes at 8056 the desired environmental conditions within the mediaacclimation are at or within a desired range of the environmentalcondition(s) within the data storage library, then data storagecartridge(s) may be inserted into the media acclimation device at 8059.

Next, at 8060, with the insertion of the data storage cartridge(s), thesecond door of the media acclimation device may be closed. Closure ofthe second door preferably isolates, insulates, and/or separates theinterior of the media acclimation device from environmental conditionswithin the data storage library, and may permit the environmentalconditions within the media acclimation device to gradually ramp towardsthe environmental conditions outside of the data storage library.Additionally and/or alternatively, ambient air from outside of the datastorage library may be introduced and/or passively communicated into themedia acclimation device via ducts, doors, vents, baffles, ports,openings, etc., in the media acclimation device in communication withthe exterior of the data storage library, which may have air curtains,moveable doors and/or other environmental barriers to permit directexposure to environmental conditions outside the data storage library soas to speed up or slow down the media acclimation process. At 8062, theenvironmental conditions within the media acclimation device are againdetected, as are the environmental conditions outside of the storagelibrary, and it is determined, at 8064, whether or not the environmentalconditions within the media acclimation device are at, near, and/orwithin a range or threshold difference between the conditions outside ofthe data storage library. If the environmental conditions in the mediaacclimation device do not meet the requirements (e.g., within definedand/or desired threshold), a predetermined amount of time is allowed topass so as to allow the environmental conditions within the mediaacclimation device to change at 8066. Processes 8062, 8064 and 8066 arerepeated until yes, the desired environmental condition(s) within themedia acclimation device meet the requirements (e.g., within the definedand/or desired threshold), then a first door in the media acclimationdevice may be opened so as to provide external access to the datastorage cartridge(s) from outside of the data storage library at 8070.The properly-acclimated data storage cartridge(s) may then be removedfrom the media acclimation device and transported from the data storagelibrary and into the data center at 8072.

Referring now to FIG. 19, media acclimation process 9000, for example,to acclimate a data storage cartridge from ambient conditions outside adata storage library to environmental conditions within the interior ofa data storage library, is disclosed in accordance with another aspectof the present disclosure. While media acclimation process 9000 may beconsidered for the sake of convenience and not with an intent oflimiting the disclosure as comprising a series and/or a number of steps,it is to be understood that the process does not need to be performed asa series of steps and/or the steps do not need to be performed in theorder shown and described with respect to FIG. 19. At 9002, one or moredata storage cartridges are provided, while at least one mediaacclimation device is provided at 9004. The at least one mediaacclimation device is preferably an active media acclimation device,such as, for example, one or more of the active media acclimationdevices that is shown and described above with respect to FIGS. 11-15,although other active media acclimation devices are contemplatedincluding media acclimation devices not disclosed herein capable ofperforming the process. Thus, the media acclimation device provided in9004 is preferably acclimated via one or more active environmentalcontrol devices capable of changing the environmental conditions withinthe media acclimation device. At 9005, environmental conditions withinthe media acclimation device and outside the data storage library aredetected and measured according to any of the methods described above.At 9006 it is determined whether or not the environmental conditionswithin the media acclimation device are at, near and/or within a rangeor threshold of the ambient environmental conditions outside the datastorage library. This determining process can be performed according toany of the methods described above. If the environmental condition(s)within the media acclimation device do not meet the necessaryrequirements, which may be predetermined or calculated as part of theprocess (i.e., the process at 9006 is not met), then the environmentalconditions within the media acclimation device are actively changed viathe active environmental control device(s) so as to bring theenvironmental conditions therein to meet, or at least be near, or withina desired range and/or threshold of the ambient environmental conditionsoutside of the data storage library at 9008. Processes 9005, 9006 and9008 may be repeated until yes, the desired environmental condition(s)in the media acclimation device are at, near and/or with a range orthreshold of the environmental condition(s) outside the data storagelibrary, and the one or more data storage cartridge(s) may be insertedinto the media acclimation device at 9010.

Next, one or more doors of the media acclimation device may be closed at9011 in order to insulate, separate, and/or isolate the interior of themedia acclimation device. It is to be noted that in some embodiments,media acclimation device may not utilize doors or other physicalbarriers that require independent movement, and thus 9011 may beomitted. At 9012, the environmental conditions within the mediaacclimation device are then detected by, e.g., one or more environmentalsensors associated with and/or within the media acclimation device. At9014, it is determined whether or not the desired environmentalcondition(s) within the media acclimation device have met a thresholddifference, which may be predetermined or calculated during and/orbefore the process, with the environmental condition(s) within the datastorage library conditions. If no, the environmental conditions withinthe media acclimation device may be actively changed via the one or moreactive environmental control device so as to gradually ramp theenvironmental conditions toward the environmental conditions within thedata storage library at 9016. The environmental conditions in the mediaacclimation device may be actively changed by utilizing an environmentalconditioning unit associated with the data storage library, one or moreenvironmental control devices as disclosed above, and/or utilizing oneof the other manners disclosed in this application. Processes 9012, 9014and 9016 may be repeated until yes, the environmental conditions withinthe media acclimation device are at, near, and/or with a range orthreshold of the environmental condition(s) within the data storagelibrary, and the data storage cartridge(s) have been acclimated. If themedia acclimation device comprises one or more doors or other physicalbarriers that require independent movement, the door(s) may be opened at9017, and the data storage cartridges may be removed from the mediaacclimation device and transported to the appropriate location withinthe data storage library at 9018.

Referring to FIG. 20, a media acclimation process 9050 similar toprocess 9000 described above with respect to FIG. 17 is disclosed, butwith process 9050 describing the process for removing data storagecartridge(s) from a data storage library. While media acclimationprocess 9050 may be considered for the sake of convenience and not withan intent of limiting the disclosure as comprising a series and/or anumber of steps, it is to be understood that the process does not needto be performed as a series of steps and/or the steps do not need to beperformed in the order shown and described with respect to FIG. 20. At9052, at least one media acclimation device is provided. Again, the atleast one media acclimation device is preferably an active mediaacclimation device, such as, for example, one or more of the activeembodiments that is shown and described above with respect to FIGS.11-15, although other media acclimation devices are contemplated. Thus,the media acclimation device provided in 9052 is preferably acclimatedvia one or more active environmental control devices capable of changingthe environmental conditions within the media acclimation device. At9054, environmental conditions within the media acclimation device andinside the data storage library are detected and measured according toany of the methods described above. At 9056, it is determined whether ornot the environmental conditions within the media acclimation device areat, near, and/or within a desired range or threshold of the ambientenvironmental conditions within the data storage library. Thisdetermining process can be performed according to any of the methodsdescribed above. If the environmental condition(s) within the mediaacclimation device do not meet the necessary requirements (the processat 9056 is not met), which requirements may be predetermined orcalculated as part of the process, then the environmental conditionswithin the media acclimation device are actively changed via the activeenvironmental control device(s) so as to bring the environmentalconditions therein to, near and/or within a desired range or thresholdof the environmental conditions within the data storage library at 9058.Processes 9054, 9056 and 9058 may be repeated until yes, the desiredenvironmental condition(s) in the media acclimation device are at, nearand/or with a range or threshold of the environmental condition(s)inside the data storage library, and in response thereto, one or moredata storage cartridge(s) may be inserted into the media acclimationdevice at 9060, which begins the acclimation of the one or more datastorage cartridge(s).

Next, one or more doors of the media acclimation device may be closed at9061 in order to insulate, separate, and/or isolate the interior of themedia acclimation device. It is to be noted that in some embodiments,media acclimation device may not utilize doors or other physicalbarriers that require independent movement, and thus 9061 may beomitted. At 9062, the environmental conditions within the mediaacclimation device and outside the data storage library are thendetected by, e.g., one or more environmental sensors. At 9064, it isdetermined whether or not the environmental conditions within the mediaacclimation device or at, near, and/or within a desired range orthreshold of the ambient environmental conditions outside of the datastorage library. If no, the environmental conditions within the mediaacclimation device may be actively changed via the one or moreenvironmental control devices so as to gradually ramp the environmentalconditions toward the environmental conditions outside of the datastorage library at 9066. Processes 9062, 9064, and 9066 are repeateduntil yes, the environmental conditions within the media acclimationdevice meet the requirements or criteria specified, calculated orotherwise determined. If media acclimation device comprises one or moredoors or other physical barriers that require independent movement, thedoor(s) may be opened at 9067, and then the data storage cartridge(s)may be removed from the media acclimation device for removal from thedata storage library at 9068.

In a number of the processes described above, a determination is made asto whether or not the one or more environmental conditions within themedia acclimation device is at, near, within a range of and/or within athreshold of the one or more environmental conditions of the interiorand/or exterior of the data storage library. The amount by which theconditions inside the media acclimation device are near, within a range,and/or within a threshold of the conditions inside and/or outside thedata storage library may be predetermined and set during programming,delivery or set and/or reset during use and may be based uponenvironmental conditions of the location and facility where the datastorage library will be operated, and the internal environmentalconditions the library will be exposed to during operation. The numbersand/or values (e.g., how near, the range and/or threshold difference)may be set in memory and/or placed in a look up table based upon theanticipated conditions of use. Alternatively, the numbers and/or valuesfor how near, the range, and/or threshold differences can be based uponcalculations performed in real time based upon the conditions of use,and/or look up tables may be programmed and which provide the numbersand values for how near, the range and/or threshold differences basedupon real time measurements of the environmental conditions in therespective areas (acclimation device, interior and exterior of the datastorage library) and the process being undertaken.

It follows that various embodiments described and/or suggested hereinare able to provide data storage systems, more specifically, automatedtape libraries having climate control capabilities, with at least onemedia acclimation device. As a result, favorable conditions (e.g.,temperature, humidity, presence of contaminants, etc.) may be maintainedfor the tape drives and/or media which may be stored in the library,while condensation accumulation on the media (and its subsequent effecton contacting devices) may be inhibited and/or avoided. Moreover, a datastorage library may be maintained at an appropriate temperature,humidity, contaminant level, etc. regardless of whether the library isinstalled in an unfavorable (e.g., hot and/or wet) data center location.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, an SD (Secure Digital) Card, a Micro SDCard, a CompactFlash Card, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, such as a library controller, partly on the user's computer,as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer andpartly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer orserver. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected tothe user's computer through any type of network, including a local areanetwork (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may bemade to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using anInternet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitryincluding, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmablegate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. Some blocks may be combined and some may beremoved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagramsand/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions oracts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computerinstructions.

Moreover, a system according to various embodiments may include aprocessor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor,the logic being configured to perform one or more of the process stepsrecited herein. By integrated with, what is meant is that the processorhas logic embedded therewith as hardware logic, such as an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array(FPGA), etc. By executable by the processor, what is meant is that thelogic is hardware logic; software logic such as firmware, part of anoperating system, part of an application program; etc., or somecombination of hardware and software logic that is accessible by theprocessor and configured to cause the processor to perform somefunctionality upon execution by the processor. Software logic may bestored on local and/or remote memory of any memory type, as known in theart. Any processor known in the art may be used, such as a softwareprocessor module and/or a hardware processor such as an ASIC, a FPGA, acentral processing unit (CPU), an integrated circuit (IC), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), etc.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode may include at least one processor, which may be or be part of acontroller, coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through asystem bus, such as controller 400 of FIG. 4. The memory elements caninclude local memory employed during actual execution of the programcode, such as nonvolatile memory 404 of FIG. 4, bulk storage, and cachememories which provide temporary storage of at least some program codein order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulkstorage during execution.

It will be clear that the various features of the foregoing systemsand/or methodologies may be combined in any way, creating a plurality ofcombinations from the descriptions presented above.

It will be further appreciated that embodiments of the present inventionmay be provided in the form of a service deployed on behalf of acustomer to offer service on demand.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data storage library for the handling of aplurality of data storage cartridges, the data storage librarycomprising: at least one library frame enclosure, the at least onelibrary frame enclosure configured to receive one or more data storagecartridges; at least one environmental conditioning unit forconditioning the internal environment conditions within the interior ofthe at least one library frame enclosure to be different than theenvironmental conditions exterior of the at least one library frameenclosure; and at least one media acclimation device having an interiorcomprising one or more storage locations to receive the one or more datastorage cartridges therein, and further wherein the at least one mediaacclimation device is configured to gradually acclimate the one or morestorage locations from one or more external environmental conditions toone or more internal environmental conditions.
 2. The data storagelibrary of claim 1, wherein the at least one media acclimation devicehas associated therewith at least one of a thermoelectric heater, athermoelectric cooler, an electric heater, a liquid heater, a liquidcooler, an air conditioner, a heat pump, an evaporative cooler, anionizer, a deionizer, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, one or more fans, orany combination thereof to gradually acclimate the interior of the atleast one media acclimation device.
 3. The data storage library of claim1, further comprising one or more import/export (I/O) stations, whereinat least a portion of the one or more I/O stations is configured to actas the at least one media acclimation device.
 4. The data storagelibrary of claim 3, wherein the one or more I/O stations comprise atleast a first environmental barrier in communication with the exteriorof the at least one library frame enclosure and at least a secondenvironmental barrier in communication with the interior of the at leastone library frame enclosure, wherein the first and second environmentalbarriers are configured to selectively provide a separate environmentwithin the one or more I/O stations.
 5. The data storage library ofclaim 4, wherein the first environmental barrier comprises a moveabledoor of the one or more I/O stations, and wherein the moveable door ismanually operable by a user for insertion of the at least one datastorage cartridge.
 6. The data storage library of claim 3, wherein theone or more I/O stations are associated with one or more fans, whereinthe one or more fans are configured to selectively provide airflowbetween the I/O station and the interior environment of the libraryframe enclosure and/or between the I/O station and the exteriorenvironment of the library frame enclosure.
 7. The data storage libraryof claim 1 further comprising one or more data storage drive bays,wherein at least a portion of the one or more data storage drive bays isconfigured to act as the at least one media acclimation device.
 8. Thedata storage library of claim 7, wherein the at least one mediaacclimation device comprises at least one opening configured to provideaccess for insertion and/or removal of at least one data storagecartridge therein.
 9. The data storage library of claim 7, wherein theat least one media acclimation device comprises at least one air ducthaving a first end in communication with an internal cavity of the atleast one media acclimation device and a second end in communicationwith at least one environmental control device.
 10. The data storagelibrary of claim 7, wherein the at least one library frame comprises oneor more data storage drive bays for receiving one or more data storagedrives, the data storage drive bays having one or more power connectorsconfigured to provide power to the one or more data storage drives,wherein the library media acclimation device is configured to becouplable to the power connector for the data storage drives.
 11. Thedata storage library of claim 7, wherein the at least one mediaacclimation device comprises at least one liquid supply line having afirst end in communication with the interior of the at least one mediaacclimation device and a second end in communication with at least oneenvironmental control device.
 12. The data storage library of claim 7,wherein the media acclimation device has an opening to receive the datastorage cartridges and wherein the opening comprises an environmentalbarrier.
 13. The data storage library of claim 1, further comprising arobotic accessor for accessing and transporting one or more data storagecartridges, wherein the at least one media acclimation device isassociated with the robotic accessor.
 14. The data storage library ofclaim 1, further comprising at least one environmental sensor within theat least one library frame enclosure, at least one environmental sensorexternal to the at least one library frame enclosure, and at least oneenvironmental sensor within the at least one media acclimation device.15. The data storage library of claim 14, wherein each of the at leastone environmental sensors comprise at least one of a temperature sensorand a humidity sensor.
 16. The data storage library of claim 1, whereinthe one or more storage locations consists of at least one from thegroup of storage slot cells, deep storage slot cells, a removablemagazine and combinations thereof, and wherein the one or more storagelocations is configured to act as the at least one media acclimationdevice.
 17. The data storage library of claim 1, wherein the datastorage library is configured to: determine if the at least oneenvironmental condition within the interior of the at least one mediaacclimation device meets a predetermined threshold; and remove the datastorage cartridge from the at least one media acclimation device inresponse to the at least one condition within the interior of the atleast one media acclimation device meeting the predetermined threshold.18. The method of claim 17, wherein the environmental conditions withinthe interior of the at least one library frame enclosure, exterior ofthe at least one library frame enclosure, and within the interior of theat least one media acclimation device are chosen from a group consistingof at least one of temperature and humidity.
 19. A data storage libraryfor the handling of a plurality of data storage cartridges, the datastorage library comprising: at least one library frame enclosure, the atleast one library frame enclosure configured to receive one or more datastorage cartridges; at least one environmental conditioning unit forconditioning the internal environment conditions within the interior ofthe at least one library frame enclosure to be different than theenvironmental conditions exterior of the at least one library frameenclosure; and at least one media acclimation device comprising one ormore storage locations to receive the one or more data storagecartridges therein, and further wherein the at least one mediaacclimation device is configured to gradually acclimate the one or morestorage locations from one or more external environmental conditions toone or more internal environmental conditions, wherein the data storagesystem is configured to: monitor at least one environmental conditionwithin the media acclimation device; monitor at least one environmentalcondition outside the media acclimation device; adjust the at least oneenvironmental condition within the media acclimation device based on theat least one environmental condition outside the media acclimationdevice; and determine whether the at least one environmental conditionwithin the media acclimation device meets a predetermined threshold; andremoving the data storage cartridge from the at least one mediaacclimation device when it is determined that the at least one conditionwithin the at least one media acclimation device meets the predeterminedthreshold.
 20. The data storage system of claim 19, further configuredso that a robotic accessor removes at least one data storage cartridgestored within the media acclimation device in response to the at leastone environmental condition within the media acclimation device meetingthe predetermined threshold.